Russia is waiting for explanations by the U.S. authorities regarding the new spy scandal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said during his trip to Jerusalem, that `the choice of timing was particularly smart` in this scandal.
`The choice of timing was particularly graceful,` said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, quoted by Russian news agencies during a trip to Jerusalem. `They have not explained to us what they are talking about. I hope they will explain.`
U.S. authorities said on Monday they had broken up a major spy ring that recruited political sources and gathered information for the Russian government, hours after Medvedev flew back to Russia from a trip to North America.
Russian lawmakers have also responded to the statements by the U.S. authorities. They say the new scandal will affect the restarted U.S.-Russia relations.
U.S. authorities have charged 11 individuals with carrying out deep-cover work in the United States to recruit political sources and gather information for the Russian government.
The Justice Department accused them of operating under orders of Russia`s SVR agency as `illegals`; the term applied in the intelligence world to agents infiltrated to live and operate under false identities, rather than officers who use diplomatic cover or other legitimate cover.
Authorities said 10 of them were arrested on Sunday in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Virginia on charges including conspiracy to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation and money laundering.
