Russia blasts US over 'crude and clumsy' spying

May 16, 2013 04:30

Russia has accused the United States of "crude and clumsy" spying on its territory after a suspected CIA agent was caught in Moscow seeking to recruit an agent while disguised in a blonde wig.

The foreign ministry issued an official protest to the US ambassador who it summoned to an early morning meeting, but signs also grew that neither side wanted the Cold War-style incident to develop into a full scale crisis.

The suspected agent was caught red-handed late Monday as he tried to recruit a Russian security agent with an advance of $100,000 for intelligence on the Northern Caucasus, according to the Russian FSB security service.

The man, who was carrying a "typical espionage arsenal" of money and disguises like wigs and spectacles, is said to have been working undercover as a low-ranking third secretary at the US embassy.

"To say the least, we are surprised by the extremely crude and clumsy recruitment" that came after pledges by both sides to improve cooperation, said President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, quoted by ITAR-TASS.

Ushakov also expressed surprise that it appeared vows by Putin and President Barack Obama for special services to work closer together had not filtered through to the CIA or the US embassy.

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