FBI breaks up alleged Russian spy ring

Authorities in the US say they have broken up a spy ring accused of carrying out so-called “deep-cover” assignments for Russian intelligence services.The allegations read like a spy novel, with secret agents told to infiltrate US policy-making circles.

The FBI has arrested ten individuals in several northeastern states. An eleventh person remains at large. All are charged with conspiring to act as unlawful agents for the Russian Federation.

The news comes only three days after President Obama joked it was time to “cut off Cold War-era emergency hotlines” during a friendly Washington summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

According to reports, the alleged spies were given several missions including seeking information on Washington’s perception of Russian foreign policy, Iran’s nuclear programme and Obama’s intentions at a summit last year and what he intended to offer Russia to “lure” it into co-operation.

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