A Russian citizen living in Denmark has been charged with espionage and passing classified information to Russia , Danish prosecutors said on Tuesday . The Russian is said to have passed information about technology energy to a Russian intelligence agency , among other things
The prosecutors have not provided information about the suspect's identity, but stated that he is in custody (pre-trial detention) since July.
The charges against the Russian are based on “a significant investigation” by the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, which added that the individual had received money in exchange for passing on confidential information.
If found guilty, he faces prison . In addition, prosecutors can order the deportation from Denmark.
The only information provided by the Russian embassy in Copenhagen is that the suspect is a man. Among other things, the embassy stated that it considers arrest a mistake and hopes for his acquittal.
“We expect the Danish judiciary to take an impartial approach to the case,” the Embassy said. “We hope that the court will exonerate our citizen from the charges and release him.”
No date has been set for the trial, which is expected to be held behind closed doors. Danish broadcaster TV2said the trial will likely take place in Aalborg, northern Denmark.
A similar incident was uncovered in 2012. Finnish national Timo Kivimaki, who was working as a researcher at the University of Copenhagen , was also sentenced to four months in prison for espionage . According to the charges, the Finn passed Danish information to Russia.
Source: ABC News
