US Citizen Suspected of Espionage by Russia’s FSB, Further Straining US-Russia Relations

Four years after Paul Whelan was detained in Russia, the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has announced the opening of a criminal case against a United States citizen suspected of espionage.

The FSB said the American is suspected of collecting intelligence information on biological topics directed against the security of the Russian Federation. The criminal case was opened under the 276 ‘Espionage’ Article of the Criminal Code.

The announcement comes weeks after WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner was freed from Russian custody after the Biden administration negotiated her release in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The development further strains the already tense relationship between Russia and the United States, which has been deteriorating since President Vladimir Putin’s nearly year-long Ukraine offensive.

The FSB did not name the individual or say whether they had been taken into custody. It is unclear if the individual is Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia four years ago on suspicion of espionage.