Russian FSB catches suspected U.S. spy "red-handed"

Source: B92, Ria novosti

MOSCOW -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday announced that they detained a U.S. diplomat suspected of being an undercover CIA agent.

The diplomatic ID issued to Fogle by the Russian authorities (Beta/AP/FSB Public Relations Center)

According to reports, the FSB held the man, identified as Ryan Christopher Fogle, briefly in custody before handing him over to the U.S. embassy in Moscow - "after necessary procedures were completed."
The Russian counterintelligence officials said that Fogle was caught on May 13 as he was trying to recruit an officer from once of Russian special services.

Fogle served as third secretary in the political department of for the American embassy.

He was in possession of “special technical devices, written instructions for the Russian citizen being recruited, a large sum of cash and means of changing his appearance,” an FSB statement, quoted by RIA Novosti, said.

A letter he was carrying, which which was released by the FSB, read:

“We are ready to offer you USD 100,000 and discuss your experience, expertise and cooperation. Payment can be significantly higher if you are prepared to answer specific questions. Furthermore, we are offering up to USD 1 million a year for long-term cooperation with additional bonuses for information that can help us.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul to come in Wednesday to discuss the incident.

The FSB concluded its statement by saying it had recently registered multiple attempts by U.S. intelligence to recruit agents from among Russian law enforcement and special services.

The U.S. embassy in Moscow is yet to issue an official reaction regarding the incident.