Russian Embassy denies espionage: Russian citizen arrested in Romania, accused of sabotage
The Russian Embassy in Bucharest has rejected sabotage allegations against a Russian citizen arrested recently in Romania, describing the evidence as "speculation and fantasy".
Russian diplomats reject sabotage accusations following arrest of Russian citizen in Romania
According to Jurnalul.ro, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest issued an official statement contesting the sabotage allegations formulated against a Russian citizen arrested recently on the territory of Romania.
Russian diplomatic representatives described the materials gathered by prosecutors as lacking substance. "The published materials consist of assumptions, speculation and all manner of fantasy. They do not contain any concrete information confirming the illegal nature of our citizen's activities or the involvement of Russian state authorities in this", the embassy statement reads.
The suspect, a Russian citizen who has also held Romanian citizenship for several years, is being held in preventive detention for 30 days. The Romanian Intelligence Service, together with other state structures, has gathered data showing that the man allegedly photographed several strategic military bases in Cluj, Constanța, Călărași and Ilfov counties, as well as in Bucharest. The targeted bases include both Romanian military facilities and multinational ones.
The embassy denies, however, that the suspect transmitted the collected information to Russia and is calling on Romanian authorities to grant a consular meeting with him. "The impression is being created that our compatriot has become the victim of a new provocation intended to fuel anti-Russian sentiment in Romanian society. The embassy is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to provide the Russian citizen with the necessary consular and legal assistance", Russian officials stated.
Diplomats from Moscow went further, accusing the arrest of the man of representing an example of systematic discrimination. "This incident constitutes a further confirmation of the fact that, at present, Russian citizens cannot feel safe even when they are legally present on the territory of member states of the European Union. At any moment, they risk becoming victims of unjustified persecution and provocations by Western intelligence services", the embassy further stated in its statement.
Romanian authorities have been officially transmitted the request regarding the organisation of a consular meeting with the suspect, according to the same diplomatic source.
Source: Jurnalul.ro