Russia convicts former police officer of passing documents to CIA

Evgeny Chistov was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his three-year association with the CIA.

"He was recruited by the CIA and completed missions, collecting and transferring secret state documents in return for a reward," Reuters today quoted the announcement of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

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, claiming that he betrayed his country for money. The documents exchanged related to the activities of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Chistov also fully admitted his guilt.

Russia and the US have had major disagreements for more than a year, from how to find a solution to the crisis in Ukraine to the campaign to destroy the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

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

Russia proposed an eight-point plan yesterday, calling for elections after an 18-month constitutional reform process in Syria, following the first round of international talks on October 30. Western diplomats said the plan was unsuccessful because it did not clarify Mr. Assad's fate. The United States and its European and Arab allies have demanded that Mr. Assad relinquish power at some point during the transition, but Iran and Russia have not accepted it.

The Vienna round of talks is seen as the most high-profile international effort to end the civil war in Syria that has lasted more than four years, killing about 250,000 people and causing Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II.

According to VNE