Russia declared Ryan Christopher Fogle, diplomat working for the US Embassy in Moscow arrested on the night of May 13 by Russian FSB counter-intelligence officers while he was allegedly trying to recruit a staff member of one of the Russian special services, persona non grata. In the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation it states that “spy arsenal” and a large sum of money found during Fogle’s arrest not only expose him as a CIA agent who worked under the cover of the third secretary of the political department of the US Embassy in Moscow, but also raises serious questions for the American side. The Foreign Ministry demands his early departure home.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called the US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul for explanations about the incident and the relevant demarche. McFaul refused to comment on the detention. In his micro blog in response to request to either confirm or deny Fogle’s involvement in secret service the diplomat wrote one word: “No.”
According to Russian media referring to the FSB press center, after conducting the search, FSB officers found special technical tools, written instructions for the recruited Russian citizen, a large sum of money, and means for changing appearance. The note printed on an A4 sheet of paper and allegedly seized from Fogle, it stated: “We are ready to give you 100,000 US dollars and are willing to discuss your experience, expertise, and cooperation. The payment can be more substantial if you want to answer specific questions.” In the text that follows the sum of one million dollars is mentioned in exchange for long-term cooperation with additional bonuses for information that “would help us.” The note describes a method for long-distance communication with the authors of the letter – through gmail mailing account, registered without providing any personal data.
The note is addressed to a “dear friend” and signed with “your friends.” Apart from this, from the photos published by Russia Today TV channel it appears that when Fogle was arrested he had several wigs, flashlight, knife, sunglasses, and several euro banknotes with him.
The Political department of the US Embassy, which employs Fogle, informs Washington about foreign and defense policy of Russia and also makes the US position on foreign policy and defense issues known to Moscow.
The Day asked Lilia SHEVTSOVA, leading researcher of the Carnegie Moscow Center, to comment on the detention of an American spy in Russia and how it can affect the development of relations between Moscow and Washington.
“Another spy scandal quite fits the tactic of ‘besieged fortress,’ used by the Kremlin in the recent years. A number of propaganda and political activities and the rhetoric of the authorities must prove that Russia became the target of hostile attacks of America that is trying to undermine Russia on the inside. It is interesting to note the coincidence of the ‘resistance’ actions: the attempts to force NGOs to plead foreign agents, program on TV on May 14 ‘Special Correspondent’ hosted by Mamontov about the explosive elements that came from Targamadze, who financed the rally on Bolotnaya Square, and is associated with America, and, finally, the capture of an American spy. It seemed as if all the evidence of America’s criminal intent are obvious… everything fits into the policy of forcing the image of an enemy. An employee of the US Embassy may well be a person working for the CIA, as well as people working in the Russian Embassy can do secret service work. But for us it is more important to realize that it all is planned to serve one purpose – build up tension and discredit the Russian opposition… But I think that these actions are not likely to undermine the easing in relations between the US and Russia – both Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama have pragmatic interests that require constant dialogue and this dialogue will continue. Kremlin’s search for an enemy inside the country is unlikely to undermine the next reset. However, its second round will inevitably be only temporary.”
Head of Moscow-based Carnegie Center Dmitry TRENIN, who is the chair of scientific council and supervisor of the program “Foreign Policy and Security,” shared his impressions and thoughts concerning the abovementioned “spy scandal” with The Day.
“It is not an agent we are speaking about, but a staff employee of the American intelligence service, who in fact has been detained. Apparently, Mr. Fogle tried to recruit an officer of Russian intelligence service.
“Spreading the materials (including video) about the detention has several goals in view: (a) to announce about the success of Russian counter-intelligence service, thus raising its prestige (there is a constant struggle between intelligence agents and counter-intelligence agents, but this kind of detentions are rare); (b) to get in a dig at their ‘colleagues’ from the CIA who have made a serious gaffe; (c) show to Russian citizens that they need to be vigilant in the face of the attempts of foreign intelligence agencies to get access to Russian secrets.
“The incident will have no effect on the political relations between the RF and the US: first, the detention was clean, one could hardly look at Fogle without feeling sorry for him; second, we are speaking about counter-terrorism; third, the intensive dialogue between Moscow and Washington which started in April has acquired well-known dynamics, and the Fogle case is a trifle, an inevitable side effect in the practice of the ‘second oldest profession.’
“US Ambassador cannot and must not comment on the actions of the intelligence officer who worked under diplomatic cover. The US ambassador seems to have no complaints to Russian authorities concerning the detention procedure.”
