Former US Marine charged with espionage in Moscow

Russia has revealed how it grew suspicious of a US man, who authorities have now charged as a spy, after he befriended several men and ignored attractive women.

A retired US Marine has been charged with espionage by Russian authorities after he received a flash drive containing a list of “secret” employees of a Russian agency.

Paul Whelan was flagged by Vladimir Putin’s Federal Security Service (FSB) after he made multiple visits to Russia, where he claimed he went to have “fun”.

Paul Whelan was arrested in Russia accused of being a US spy. Picture: Supplied

Suspicions arose when the 48-year-old appeared to “shun pretty women” while on a trip to Moscow, choosing instead to strike up a conversation with men who might have been in possession of confidential information,Russian news outlet Rosbalt reported.

The Metropol Moscow, the 5-Star hotel where Mr Whelan ws detained. Picture: Supplied

Armed FSB operatives moved in on Mr Whelan moments after receiving a flash drive in his lavish Moscow hotel room.

“The American received an electronic carrier in the room with a list of all employees of one of the secret Russian departments,” said the first of several reports.

“Five minutes after the transfer, FSB officers broke into the room and detained a suspect of espionage.

“On examination, they found a flash card with secret information.”

Rosbalt stated that Mr Whelan, a corporate security executive, was “caught red-handed immediately after receiving a media with information containing state secrets.

“It was about a list of persons that is not subject to disclosure and has long been the object of keen interest of US intelligence.

Russia’s FSB opened a criminal case against Mr Whelan but gave no details of his alleged espionage. Picture: Supplied

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman visited Mr Whelan, at a detention facility in Moscow and spoke by phone with his family.

“We’ve made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges, come to understand what it is he’s been accused of and if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return,” Mr Pompeo.

Russia’s FSB state security service opened a criminal case against Mr Whelan but it gave no details of his suspected espionage activities.

Armed FSB operatives moved in on Whelan after he received a gflash drive in his hotel room. Picture: Supplied

Under Russian law, espionage can carry a prison sentence of between 10 and 20 years.

Mr Whelan’s family said on Tuesday that he was visiting Moscow for the wedding of a retired Marine and is innocent of the espionage charges against him.

He had been staying with the wedding party at Moscow’s Metropol hotel when he went missing, his brother David said.

“His innocence is undoubted and we trust that his rights will be respected,” Mr Whelan’s family said in a statement.