Update and comment from QCOM on our spy
Does Mr. Bliss get OT for jail time?
U.S. protests delay in visiting man held in Russia
(updates with U.S. protest, details)
WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The United States has protested over a Russian delay in granting consular access to a U.S. citizen detained last week for alleged spying, the State Department said on Monday.
Department spokesman James Rubin declined comment on the espionage allegation, but a U.S. embassy spokesman in Moscow said the detained man, Richard Bliss, was "certainly not" a spy.
Bliss's employer, U.S. telecommunications company Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O), said he had not intended any illegality. "We do not believe that Mr Bliss or Qualcomm knowingly violated any Russian laws," it said in a statement.
Bliss, who was detained Nov. 25 in the southern Russian region of Rostov-on-Don, was finally seen by a U.S. embassy official on Monday. "Mr Bliss said that he was being well treated," Rubin said.
"We were not given permission to visit him (Bliss) until today, and we have protested this delay," he added at a regular news briefing.
The State Department said Bliss, 29, was born in Washington state.
In Rostov, Federal Security Service (FSB) spokesman Alexander Taurinsky said Bliss had been carrying out topography and long-distance surveys using illegally imported satellite receivers.
"He has not been formally charged with any crime. According to the Russian government, he's being investigated on suspicion of espionage," Rubin said.
Rubin said Bliss was gathering data for the development of a cellular telephone network using a global positioning system device. Bliss and his employer said they had proper documentation for use of the equipment, he added.
Qualcomm, based in San Diego, California, said Bliss was a field technician who was installing and testing a wireless communications system on behalf of Electrosviaz of Rostov Region.
"To our knowledge, all of Mr Bliss's activities were in accordance with Russian law, conducted in the normal course of business with a representative of Electrosviaz ... present at all times," it said.
The company said it was "working diligently" to obtain his release and would continue its work in the region.
The State Department said Bliss was being represented by a lawyer, who had paid him frequent visits.
REUTERS |
