Russia lodges protest with US over spy row

MOSCOW - The Russian foreign ministry on Wednesday lodged a formal protest with the US ambassador to Moscow following the detention of a CIA agent.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov lodged a protest with Michael McFaul "in connection with an attempt to recruit an employee of the Russian special service by the CIA's Ryan Fogle," the ministry said.

The agent worked under the disguise of the embassy's third secretary and has been declared persona non grata and must leave Russia shortly, the ministry said.

The CIA agent allegedly offered up to $1 million to the Russian intelligence officer.

Beside the spy row, Ryabkov and McFaul also discussed current affairs of international and bilateral agenda, the ministry said.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Fogle in an overnight raid Tuesday. Special technical devices, written instructions for the Russian citizen being recruited, a large sum of cash and appearance disguising means were discovered during the detention.

The foreign ministry said that "such provocative actions of the Cold War type in no way promote strengthening mutual trust." It then summoned Mcfaul for an explanation over the case.

During a recent telephone conversation, President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including that between security services when fighting international terrorism.