Post date: May 19, 2013 6:32:59 PM
The wig wearing alleged U.S. spy leaves Moscow after he had been caught red-handed with disguises, special equipment and wads of cash as he tried to recruit a Russian agent for the CIA.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 19, 2013) (RU24) - The wig wearing alleged U.S. spy was seen leaving Moscow on Sunday (May 19) after he had been caught red-handed with disguises, special equipment and wads of cash as he tried to recruit a Russian agent for the CIA earlier this week.
Moscow expelled a U.S. diplomat Ryan Fogle on Tuesday (May 14) after he had been briefly detained and accused of trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer to work for the CIA.The footage released late on Sunday showed Fogle going through standard procedures, including passport control and security checks, at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, as he was preparing to depart from Russia.
U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul spent about 30 minutes at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday (May 15) after being summoned to give an explanation, and the Ministry said it had issued a formal protest.
Although President Vladimir Putin said nothing about the incident, state news channels repeatedly showed footage of the U.S. diplomat, Ryan Fogle, in an incongruous-looking blond wig being pinned to the ground by a Russian undercover agent in a "sting" operation.
The images, highly embarrassing for the United States, appeared part of efforts to boost Putin's ratings following his allegations that Washington has stoked protests against him, rather than an attempt to derail relations between the nations.