Katia Zatuliveter: Suspected Russian Sleeper Spy May Face Deportation from U.K.
LONDON (CBS/AP) Katia Zatuliveter, a Russian aide to a member of Britain's House of Commons Defense Committee, could be deported following allegations of spying by British security services.
The House of Commons Defense Committee member, Mike Hancock, said he was unaware that the security services had any suspicions about his 25-year-old aide until she was detained.
"She is not a Russian spy. I know nothing about espionage, but she has been subjected to a deportation order," Hancock said. "She is appealing it because she feels, quite rightly, that she has done nothing wrong."
In October, The Sunday Times reported that Home Secretary Theresa May has already approved Zatuliveter's detention. The Home Office declined to comment, saying it never comments on individual cases.
Hancock, 64, is a member of the House of Commons Defense Committee, and the European Security and Defense Assembly of the Western European Union, a security and defense organization. He is a Liberal Democrat, the junior party in the Conservative-led government.
The Sunday Times said Zatuliveter was stopped and questioned at Gatwick airport in August when she returned to Britain.
Hancock said Zatuliveter had been a full-time researcher in his office for 2 1/2 years, and earlier had worked there as an intern.
He said her work included hosting constituents visiting Parliament, writing speeches and working on early day motions, which serve as expressions of lawmakers' opinions.
In July, the government revoked the British citizenship of Anna Chapman who was among 10 people who pleaded guilty in the United States to procuring information for a foreign government.
Chapman had lived in Britain for four years, but had gone to the United States after divorcing her British husband. She and the others were sent back to Russia in a swap for four Russians accused of spying for the West.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF ANNA CHAPMAN ON CRIMESIDER
