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Sparking memories of the Cold War era. Russia says it plans to expel a U.S. diplomat accused
of working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Ryan Fogle was held overnight by Russian authorities after being caught red-handed with a series
of disguises.
Park Ji-won has the details. Russia's Federal Security Service announced Tuesday it had
detained Ryan Fogle on charges of trying to recruit a Russian spy to work for the U.S.
Russian officials say Fogle, third secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, was arrested
on Monday.
At the time of his arrest, he was wearing a blonde wig, and carrying suspicious items,
including knives, disguises and a lot of cash.
He was detained overnight on Monday, and sent back to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Russia's foreign ministry declared him "persona non grata" for "provocative actions in the
spirit of the Cold War",. and ordered him to leave the country.
The foreign ministry said it has summoned U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul over the case.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed Fogle is an officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow,
but didn't release any further details.
This arrest comes at a very sensitive time for U.S.-Russia relations.
Washington and Moscow are closely cooperating on the investigation into last month's Boston
bombing attack, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently traveled to Moscow to
ask for Russia's support on ways to end the conflict in Syria.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.