World

Russia Arrests U.S. 'Spy'

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

November 30, 1999 / 8:55 AM EST / CBS

Only a day after reports surfaced that a career U.S. soldier was charged with spying for Russia, a Moscow-based American diplomat was briefly detained by Russia's security services in what may have been a tit-for-tat arrest.

The diplomatÂ's detention for allegedly trying to obtain secret information from a Russian citizen underscored lingering post-Cold War suspicions between the U.S. and Russia.

The diplomat, who serves as the second secretary in the U.S. Embassy's political section, was detained in Moscow on Monday evening and released shortly afterward, said Alexander Zdanovich, chief spokesman for the Federal Security Service (FSB), which was formed from the KGB.

Speaking on Russian television, Zdanovich claimed the diplomat worked for the CIA and was caught Â"red-handed while conducting an espionage operation.Â"

Zdanovich, who alleged that the diplomat Â"tried to obtain documentary materials of a military-strategic character,Â" declined to name names. But the Interfax news agency said the diplomatÂ's name was Cheri Leberknight.

After she was detained, the diplomat was taken to the FSB offices, where a Russian Foreign Ministry representative and U.S. diplomats were immediately summoned. Shortly afterward, she was released.

On Monday, CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin reported that a senior U.S. Navy petty officer was under arrest for allegedly selling U.S. intelligence secrets to the Kremlin.

Daniel King, an 18-year Navy veteran, was being held in a Virginia Marine Corps brig for allegedly feeding Moscow information about one of the Pentagon's most secret operations: using submarines to eavesdrop on Russian undersea communications cables.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Tuesday he hoped the arrest of the American diplomat would not damage relations between Moscow and the Washington, which have been strained over several issues recently..

But, he warned, Â"the episode doesn't promote the improvement of the climate in relations.Â"

Russia and the United States disagree on issues that include Moscow's military campaign in Chechnya, Washington's desire to modify a missile defense treaty and the Russian parliament's refusal to ratify a treaty on cutting down nuclear arms. Russia was also strongly opposed to NATO's bombing campaign in Yugoslavia earlier this year.