http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/14/russia-cia-agent-detained/2157529/

 

Russia detains alleged CIA officer in Moscow

Kim Hjelmgaard and Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY9:57 a.m. EDT May 14, 2013

Security forces say a CIA officer posing as a diplomat tried to recruit an intelligence officer.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is seen in a 1995 file photo.(Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP)

Story Highlights

• Russian security services said Tuesday that a U.S. CIA officer was detained in Moscow
• Ryan Fogle, a third secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, detained
• Russia alleges Fogle attempted to recruit a Russian secret agent

Russian security services said Tuesday that a U.S. CIA officer -- allegedly caught with wigs, multiple eyeglasses and spy instructions -- was detained in Moscow Monday night after allegedly attempting to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.

He was later turned over to the U.S. Embassy.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that Ryan Fogle, a third secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, was carrying not only special technical equipment, including disguises, but a large sum of money in plastic sandwich bags, RT reported.

According to a letter purportedly carried by Fogle, the potential recruit is promised $100,000 for meeting to discuss further cooperation and up to $1 million a year for information he provides in the future.

The letter also spells out how to set up a Gmail account and to contact his handlers.

According to a translation of the alleged letter carried by RT, it reads in part:

"This is a down-payment from someone who is very impressed with your professionalism and who would greatly appreciate your cooperation in the future. Your security means a lot to us. This is why we chose this way of contacting you. we will continue to make sure our correspondent remains safe and secret."

The letter ends with the words: "Thank you for reading this. We look forward to working with you in the nearest future. Your friends."

READ: Translation of purported CIA recruitment letter

State television showed pictures of a man said to be Fogle sitting at a desk in FSB offices.

"The detainee was brought in the reception office of the Federal Security Service and after necessary procedures was handed over to the official representatives of the U.S. Embassy," the FSB Public Relations Center said, in a statement.

RT carried photographs showing Fogle being initially detained. He is wearing a baseball cap, sport shirt and has a backpack slung over his shoulder. A man, apparently a security officer, with his face intentionally blurred in the photograph, stands directly behind.

A second photograph shows him being handcuffed face down on the ground, his blond wig askew under his cap.

Another photograph shows a table filled with what is purportedly spy gear, including a blond and a black wig, three pairs of glasses, a flashlight, a map of Moscow, and small plastic bags filled with 500-Euro notes.

The unusual publicity -- complete with video and photos -- given the arrest is particularly noteworthy, apparently intended either as a warning to the CIA for being too aggressive in its recruitment efforts or to other potential recruits of the risks involved .

The U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment.

U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul was summoned to the Foreign Ministry following the detention, the Interfax News Agency reported.

McFaul, who actively tweets, was asked on the official U.S. Embassy twitter account by The Moscow Times reporter Jonathan Earle whether he could confirm, deny or otherwise comment on the FSB statement about Fogle's detention.

McFaul's reply: "No."