Suspected Russian Spy Fights Deportation From U.K.

LONDON  -- A British lawmaker's former assistant accused of being a Russian spy is asking judges to stop her deportation.

Katia Zatuliveter was arrested in December on suspicion of using her position in the office of legislator Mike Hancock to pass information to Russian intelligence.

She was not charged, but British authorities want to deport her as a danger to national security.
Zatuliveter denies spying and is asking the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to block her extradition.

The case began Tuesday before three judges and a former head of the MI5 intelligence agency.

Hancock, a member of the House of Commons Defense Committee, has said 26-year-old Zatuliveter worked as a researcher in his office for 2 1/2 years, but was not involved in sensitive matters.