Russia detains Estonian consul on spying allegations

MOSCOW

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday that it detained Estonian consul to Saint Petersburg on spying allegations.

Mart Latte was arrested while trying to access classified information, the FSB said in a statement.

"Such activities are not compatible with the status of a diplomatic employee and has a clear hostile nature towards the Russian Federation," the FSB said.

The security agency arrested Ukrainian consul Alexander Sosonyuk in Saint Petersburg in April on similar allegations.

Sosonyuk spent several hours at an FSB office and was released, but his presence in Russia was declared "unwanted."

The Russian Foreign Ministry gave him a recommendation to leave the country, which he followed.