Title: Russia Accuses Former U.S. Consulate Employee of Espionage

The TASS news agency reported today, Monday, that "the Russian Federal Security Service has accused a former employee of the U.S. consulate in the Russian Far East of gathering information about the war in Ukraine and other issues on behalf of the United States." The agency quoted the service stating that "the suspect, Robert Shonov, transmitted information to U.S. embassy staff in Moscow about the impact of Russia's compulsory conscription campaign on political discontent in the country, prior to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2024." The Federal Security Service intends to interrogate U.S. embassy employees who had contact with Shonov, who is a Russian citizen detained by the authorities since May.