WASHINGTON — In a sign of new tensions between Russia and the United States, Moscow yesterday arrested a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer, claiming he was a spy.
Russia’s spy agency, the FSB — formerly headed by President Vladimir Putin — claimed to have payment receipts and taped conversations showing the American, now a businessman in Moscow, tried to buy defense secrets from Russian scientists.
The agency said a Russian scientist who was his accomplice was also arrested.
ABC News identified the American as retired Navy Capt. Edmond Pope, who was working for Penn State University’s Applied Research Laboratory, which holds contracts with the Office of Naval Research.
The State Department, citing privacy concerns, refused to release any details, saying only that the man had a lawyer and had been visited by a consular official.
Russian TV said the American was arrested on the street and found with $30,000, and that the secrets involved plans for submarine-deployed missiles.
The FSB said the American had several technical plans and taped conversations with Russian scientists with him. It was the second U.S. spy arrest in the past six months.
Last year, Moscow kicked out U.S. diplomat Cheri Leberknight, claiming she was a CIA spy.