Russia convicts former police officer for leaking documents to the CIA.

Evgeny Christov was sentenced to up to 13 years in prison for his three-year connection with the US Central Intelligence Agency.

"He was recruited by the CIA and completed tasks, collecting and transferring classified state documents in exchange for a reward," Reuters quoted the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) as saying today.

Russian authorities sentenced a man accused of selling state secrets to 13 years in prison. (Photo: Itar Tass)

The Moscow court found that Chistov actively contacted the CIA, alleging he betrayed his country for money. The documents exchanged concerned the activities of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Chistov also fully admitted his guilt.

Russia and the United States have had major disagreements for over a year, ranging from how to find a solution to the crisis in Ukraine to the campaign to eliminate the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

Around 20 countries and international organizations are expected to meet in Vienna, Austria, on November 14th to agree on a peace plan, including a ceasefire between the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government and the opposition.

Russia yesterday proposed an eight-point plan, calling for elections following an 18-month constitutional reform process in Syria, starting with the first round of international talks on October 30. Western diplomats believe the plan is unsuccessful because it fails to clarify Assad's fate. The US and its European and Arab allies are demanding that Assad relinquish power at some point during the transition, but Iran and Russia have not agreed.

The Vienna Round of talks is seen as the most prominent international effort to end the Syrian civil war, which has lasted more than four years, killed around 250,000 people, and caused the worst migration crisis in Europe since World War II.

According to VNE