Russia

A former senior Justice Department official at the American Embassy in Moscow was not allowed to return to Russia this month, and people familiar with the case say it could be because he refused to spy for the Russians.Thomas Firestone -- an attorney living in Moscow -- was working for an American law firm, and had extensive contacts in the Russian government, according to a report in The New York Times. Firestone was returning from a trip abroad on May 5 when authorities stopped him at Sheremetyevo Airport, near Moscow. He was held for 16 hours and then put on a flight to the U.S.A source close to the case told The Times that intelligence operatives from the Russian Federal Security Service had contacted Firestone in March, to recruit him to spy for the Russians. Firestone declined the offer.It's not clear whether there is a connection between Firestone's unwillingness to work with the Russians and his ejection from the country.The White House has contacted the Russian government abou...

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