[ad_1]
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday that the United States had arrested a Russian citizen shortly after Moscow had arrested former US militaryman Paul Whelan, accused of espionage.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Dmitry Makarenko was arrested by US authorities on December 29 in the Northern Mariana Islands, an area of more than 9,000 kilometers in the middle of the ocean Peaceful. From there, he was reportedly transferred to the state of Florida.
"Makarenko, born in 1979, arrived on the island of Saipan [parte do arquipélago das Marianas] with his wife, young children and elderly parents and was arrested by FBI agents immediately after his arrival", indicates the Russian note.
The ministry also said that the country's diplomats had not yet been able to access Makarenko and that Washington had not given any formal explanation about this arrest.
The United States government did not comment on the case, occurring a day after the arrest of Whelan in Moscow by the Russian Federal Security Service. The family says that he is innocent and that he was in town to go to a wedding.
The exchange of accusations between the two parties may further complicate relations between countries, despite constant exchanges of affection between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this week that he had asked for an explanation for the arrest of Whelan in Moscow and that he would request his release and his dismissal immediate evidence that his detention was inappropriate
. United also criticized Moscow and said that individuals should not be used as in the diplomatic game –Whelan also has a British pbadport.
Prior to the arrest of Makarenko, badysts had already raised the possibility that Whelan could be traded against any Russian citizen detained on US soil.
When asked about this, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov denied this intention. "I see no reason to discuss this issue in an exchange context, we should follow all procedures in a situation like this," he said on Saturday.
Source link
