President Obama was aware of the suspected Russian spy ring when he met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the White House last week, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.
While the two men were keen to show an image of close relations, highlighted by Obama buying Medvedev a cheeseburger with fries at a local burger joint for lunch, Obama did not discuss the spy issue with Medvedev.
“Obviously the president was fully and appropriately informed. This was a law enforcement action, and law enforcement acted appropriately,” said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday.
Ten alleged Russian spies were arrested on Sunday for carrying out long-term, deep-cover assignments in the United States, the Justice Department said Monday.
All of the defendants have been charged with “conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States,” according a news release by the Justice Department. The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Cyprus police reported on Tuesday the arrest of an 11th person allegedly involved in the spy ring, but he was released on bail.
According to Gibbs, the roundup will not affect “the reset” in relations with Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry acknowledged in a statement Tuesday that all of those arrested were Russian nationals, but said “they did not commit any actions aimed against the interests of the United States.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko, said Tuesday that the arrests by U.S. security services “had no foundation and pursued unseemly goals,” Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported.
“We don’t understand the reasons which prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to make a public statement in the spirit of Cold War-era spy stories,” Nesterenko said.
U.S. Assistant Secretary, Philip H. Gordon of Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said in a press briefing on Thursday that there have not been signs of reciprocal arrests or action taken against alleged U.S. spies in Russia.
Gordon said that U.S. diplomats are talking about the issue with Russian officials in both Washington and Moscow, but gave no details.
While the two men were keen to show an image of close relations, highlighted by Obama buying Medvedev a cheeseburger with fries at a local burger joint for lunch, Obama did not discuss the spy issue with Medvedev.
“Obviously the president was fully and appropriately informed. This was a law enforcement action, and law enforcement acted appropriately,” said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday.
Ten alleged Russian spies were arrested on Sunday for carrying out long-term, deep-cover assignments in the United States, the Justice Department said Monday.
All of the defendants have been charged with “conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States,” according a news release by the Justice Department. The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Cyprus police reported on Tuesday the arrest of an 11th person allegedly involved in the spy ring, but he was released on bail.
According to Gibbs, the roundup will not affect “the reset” in relations with Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry acknowledged in a statement Tuesday that all of those arrested were Russian nationals, but said “they did not commit any actions aimed against the interests of the United States.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrey Nesterenko, said Tuesday that the arrests by U.S. security services “had no foundation and pursued unseemly goals,” Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported.
“We don’t understand the reasons which prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to make a public statement in the spirit of Cold War-era spy stories,” Nesterenko said.
U.S. Assistant Secretary, Philip H. Gordon of Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said in a press briefing on Thursday that there have not been signs of reciprocal arrests or action taken against alleged U.S. spies in Russia.
Gordon said that U.S. diplomats are talking about the issue with Russian officials in both Washington and Moscow, but gave no details.
