The detention of Russian citizen Vadim Konoshchenok in Estonia at the request of the United States is “unacceptable,” according to Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov, who vowed that there will be a response.
The US Justice Department released an indictment Tuesday that said Konoshchenok was arrested in Estonia last week after attempting to smuggle 20 cases of US-made sniper rifle ammunition into Russia in late November.
According to the indictment, Konoshchenok was also stopped by police at the Estonian border with thousands of additional US-made bullets, as well as “semiconductors and other electronic components,” some of which were controlled by the US government “for reasons of anti-terrorism.”
Konoshchenok, who the Justice Department believes is an officer for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), is one of a group of seven people indicted, including five Russian citizens and two US citizens. Four of the seven remain at large.
“Konoshchenok – who is suspected to be an FSB officer – would ship or physically smuggle U.S.-origin items from Estonia to Russia, including dual-use electronics, military-grade tactical ammunition and other export-controlled items,” according to the statement published by the US Department of Justice.
Ivanov told Russian state media RIA Novosti on Wednesday that “we will not tolerate this, this is not the first time this has happened, this is an unacceptable practice — the detention of our citizens abroad, and every time we will respond to this.”
He added the Russian side “so far has no information, except for some statements; so far no papers have been seen.”
According to the 16-count indictment, the defendants were associated with two Moscow companies that worked with the FSB to purchase and smuggle sanctioned items — including semiconductors and other electronic equipment — from the US to the Russian military.
An embassy staff member in Estonia visited Konoshchenok on Wednesday, the Russian diplomatic mission in Tallin told state media RIA Novosti.
According to RIA, the Russian diplomatic mission also said that Konoshchenok has a lawyer and “denies accusations of illegal activity.”
“The Estonian court has to make a decision on his possible deportation to the United States within the next 60 days,” according to the statement.
CNN’s Holmes Lybrand contributed reporting to this post.
