Summarised by Centrist
Russia’s security service says it has arrested a 55-year-old Russian citizen for allegedly passing information to New Zealand intelligence.
The Federal Security Service said the unnamed man contacted New Zealand intelligence himself and was then recruited to collect information on Russia’s defence cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific.
It alleged he shared material “that could be used against Russia’s national security”.
The suspect is being held before trial on treason charges and could face life imprisonment. The allegations have not been independently verified.
The NZSIS neither confirmed nor denied involvement, saying it “has a longstanding practice of not commenting on what may or may not be operational matters”.
It also warned that “Russian state media are often not the most reliable source of accurate reporting”.
Russia has produced an arrest video and allegations, not independently tested evidence. But its account alleges New Zealand directly recruited a Russian source to collect information about Moscow’s defence cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries.
