Russia detains Khabarovsk man accused of spying for New Zealand intelligence service

Russian authorities have detained a 55-year-old resident from the city of Khabarovsk accused of transmitting information to the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service - a partner agency in the Five Eyes alliance with Australia.

According to state news agency TASS, the man, who was not identified by name, was alleged to have gathered and shared information “that could be used against Russia’s national security.”

In a separate statement, Russia’s security agency FSB claimed New Zealand had “recruited” the man to gather intelligence on Russia’s defence cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Nightly has contacted New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry and the NZSIS, but both are yet to comment.

More to come...