The Federal Bureau of Investigation eavesdropped on discussions which involve a Russian intelligence personnel in New York. The FBI is also investigating a suspected spy personating as a trade representative who hid recorders in binders containing confidential information about the US energy sector.
On Tuesday, hours of secret recordings from 2013 were divulged in documents filed in a federal court in Manhattan involving Evgeny Buryakov. US prosecutors said that Buryakov is a Russian citizen who pretended as a banker while participating in a Cold War-like spy ring.
According to Reuters, the FBI's eavesdropping enables the agency to infiltrate the workplaces of Russia's foreign intelligence service. The FBI also apprehended one Russian agent, who was also charged with the same case. The captured Russian complained about the 'lack of thrill' in his work.
Last month, Russia asked President Obama's administration for permission to fly surveillance planes equipped with cutting-edge digital cameras over the United States. The Boston Globe reported that the request from Russia sparked a long-running debate about intelligence officials and the Pentagon over Russia's motives to use such flights to spy and study US communications networks, critical infrastructure, and power plants.
For many years now, Russia has conducted unarmed observation flights over the United States. The United States also conducted the same kind of flights in Russia as part of the Open Skies Treaty. In 1992, US and Russia, along with 32 other nations, signed the treaty at the end of the Cold War, reports The New York Times.
The prosecutors disclosed the charges against Buryakov and two other Russians, Victor Podobnyy and Igor Sporyshev. The three Russians were charged with conspiracy to gather economic intelligence for Russia, including data about US sanctions against Russia, and recruit intelligence sources in New York City.
Neither Podobnyy and Sporyshev were arrested, as they enjoyed diplomatic immunity in their respective roles as a Russian trade representative. Meanwhile, Buryakov has pleaded not guilty.
