US accuses Russia of intimidation after ex-consulate worker charged with spying

WASHINGTON - The United States on Monday accused Moscow of attempting to intimidate and harass American employees after Russian state media reported that a former US consulate worker had been charged by security services with collecting information on the war in Ukraine and other issues for Washington.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted the Federal Security Service (FSB) as saying that Robert Shonov, a Russian national, relayed information to US embassy staff in Moscow on how Russia’s conscription campaign was impacting political discontent ahead of the 2024 presidential election in Russia.

The FSB said it planned to question employees of the US embassy who were in contact with Shonov, who has been placed under arrest since May.

Shonov was employed by the US Consulate General in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok for more than 25 years until Russia in 2021 ordered the termination of the US mission’s local staff.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller repeated the US position that the allegations against Shonov, whom Washington said was subsequently employed via a company contracted to the American embassy to summarise news reports, “are wholly without merit”.

“Russia’s targeting of Mr Shonov under the ‘confidential cooperation’ statute only highlights the increasingly repressive actions the Russian government is taking against its own citizens,” Mr Miller said in a statement.

Mr Miller added that Washington was aware the FSB had also summoned two diplomats working at the US embassy in Moscow in connection to the case. 

“We strongly protest the Russian security services’ attempts – furthered by Russia’s state-controlled media – to intimidate and harass our employees,” said Mr Miller.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS