A senior London-based executive with Aeroflot, reportedly the Russian airline’s country and station manager in the UK since 2012, has been arrested on suspicion of treason.
Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik News quoted an informed source saying Russian citizen Dmitry Fedotkin was arrested on suspicion of treason and working with British intelligence.
“Fedotkin is suspected of passing information of a secret nature to the UK intelligence service, while being an employee of Aeroflot in the UK. He does not admit guilt in the alleged crime,” the source said.
Fedotkin is from Moscow and was detained in the Russian capital on a visit home, the source told Sputnik.
Fedotkin’s Facebook profile indicates he holds the position of Aeroflot’s country manager in the UK – though he is unlikely to be doing that now.
Moscow’s Lefortovo Court is reported to have ordered Fedotkin’s arrest as it investigates a criminal case of treason. Sputnik added that the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison. Details are classified and Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has said it has no information about the arrest of its UK representative.
Reuters reported Fedotkin had been detained on suspicion of passing state secrets to Britain’s MI6 foreign intelligence service. He denies all charges.
Russia’s TASS News Agency says Fedotkin has been placed in pre-trial detention until 10 January 2021, while investigations continue, the Moscow Times reported.
“Fedotkin is suspected of passing secrets about Russia’s social and political situation to the British intelligence services,” TASS quoted an unnamed source close to the investigation as saying.
“At the same time, he did not have access to state secrets due to the nature of his activities.”
Written by Peter Needham
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