Three Russians charged with spying in US allegedly sought economic secrets
Three Russians allegedly sought information on Wall Street and US sanctions, while one said he wanted some James Bond flair in tedious job
Three Russians charged by the US with espionage allegedly sought secrets tied to the New York Stock Exchange and US economic sanctions on Russia, even while one bemoaned his tedious job's lack of a James Bond flair.
The US investigation of the alleged spy ring started within months of the FBI's June 2010 arrest of 10 Russian agents dubbed the "Illegals", who had been on "deep cover" assignments, some living in the US for as long as a decade. That year, each of the 10 pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, after which they were returned to Russia in a prisoner exchange.
One of the three named in charges made public on Monday, Evgeny Buryakov, 39, was arrested in the New York borough of the Bronx. He appeared before a Manhattan federal judge who said he was a flight risk and ordered him held without bail.
"His cover has now been blown," US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn said.
He has "every incentive to flee", she said.
