The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced today that it has arrested a Romanian citizen in Sochi on suspicion of espionage in favor of Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported. The arrest announcement comes amid diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Bucharest, BTA reported.
In a press release, the FSB accuses the Romanian citizen, born in 2002, of collecting and transmitting data to Ukrainian services in the summer of 2024 about the locations of Russian air defense systems in the city of Sochi. In return, the FSB said, Ukrainian services promised to help him leave Russia safely and join the Ukrainian army.
The FSB added that the Romanian was suspected of espionage, a crime punishable by 20 years in prison in Russia. Russian media published a video of the FSB arresting the man and wrestling him to the ground. The suspect, whose face was blurred during questioning, spoke English and said he had sent information about the location of a Russian anti-aircraft battery to an acquaintance in the Ukrainian services.
During Romania's presidential election in November, Bucharest suspected Russia of interfering in favor of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, a Vladimir Putin admirer who opposes aid to Ukraine and who rose to political prominence after a massive campaign on "TikTok", AFP notes.
The Romanian election was ultimately annulled, and Calin Georgescu was then barred from participating in the new vote, the first round of which is scheduled for May 4.
Relations between Bucharest and Moscow have been particularly tense since the Kremlin began its offensive against Ukraine in February 2022. In early April, Moscow expelled the Romanian military attaché. Previously, the same measure was taken by Bucharest against the Russian military attaché.