Russian ambassador to Cyprus denies U.S. charges on spy ring
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Russian ambassador to Cyprus Vyacheslav Shumskiyon Thursday rejected U.S. charges that Russian citizens living in the United States have been involved in an alleged spy ring.
The Russian citizens arrested in the United States and charged with spying "have not committed any offense in terms of violating immigration regulations or anything of the sort," said Shumskiy in responding to questions relating to the disappearance in Cyprus of a Canadian man, alleged to be the paymaster of the ring.
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He made the remarks during a reception at the Russian embassy sponsored by a Russian newspaper published in Cyprus, "Vestnik Kipra." Several ministers, including Justice Minister Loucas Louca, were present.
U.S. authorities have arrested 10 people for allegedly working in a ring collecting information for the Russian Government.
An 11th alleged member of the ring, Canadian national Robert Christofer Metsos, aged 54, was arrested in Cyprus on Tuesday but he disappeared shortly after being released by a court on bail to appear at an extradition hearing on July 29.
Cyprus government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that no representation has been made on the part of the U.S. to the Republic of Cyprus after the man went missing.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca criticized a court which had ordered the release of the suspect on bail, but added authorities have "some indications" as to where he could be.
"We hope he will soon be arrested,"he added.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said there are no indications that Metsos has left the island.
The police are in the process of ascertaining whether he is still in Cyprus and whether he has crossed into the Turkish Cypriot north, which is not under the government's control, Katsounotos added.
He rejected criticism for the handling of the issue by the police, saying that the suspect was released on the orders of a court of justice.
"The prosecution advocate had pointed out the possibility that he might escape but the court deemed it safe to release him on restrictive terms,"he said.
The Court had ordered Metsos to pay bail, surrender his passport and report once a day to a police station. But he failed to obey and vanished the next day.
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