Russia deplores U.S. security agents' provocation against Russian citizen - Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Moscow condemns actions by American security agents who, posing as representatives of private companies, offered hunting rifle sights to Russian citizen Roman Kvinikadze for sale, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"This kind of American law enforcement agencies' approach to Russian citizens is becoming increasingly disrespectful of international law and bilateral agreements, including the 1999 agreement on mutual legal assistance in investigating crimes. Some in the United States are eager to turn this into an established practice under the pretext of 'fighting against foreign crime,'" the Russian Foreign Ministry's commissioner for human rights, democracy and rule of law said in comments on the charges of exporting sensitive products, brought in the United States against Kvinikadze.
Dolgov's comments were posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Friday.
Reports said earlier that Kvinikadze, 32, was accused of attempting to export military rifle sights to Russia in violation of the American legislation.
"We absolutely deem the American security agents' posing as representatives of a private company interested in selling hunting gear, including thermal vision rifle sights unacceptable. According to our sources, Kvinikadze was being knowingly provoked to violate the law and he was lured into the United States for supposedly inking a deal in order to arrest him," Dolgov said.
"The situation is being closely followed by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian consular service in Seattle," he said.
"After Kvinikadze was arrested in August by agents of the U.S. Department of Home Security, our consular workers got in touch with him and with the prison authorities in Nebraska where he is being held. Preliminary court hearings took place on November 4. The defense attorneys are to present their arguments in early December. We will continue providing consular-legal assistance to our compatriot," Dolgov said.
