Russian spy ring suspect jumps bail in Cyprus

The Russian espionage drama intensfied on Wednesday as one of the suspects in the alleged “deep cover” spy ring failed to turn up to answer his bail conditions, it was reported.

An arrest warrant was issued for Christopher Metsos, the 11th suspected member of the operation, after he failed to turn up to a police station in Larnaka.

Metsos, 55, was arrested in Cyprus on Tuesday but, to the surpise of Cypriot police, was released on bail. Ten other accused are in custody in the United States, after the FBI broke up the ring on Monday.

Arrest warrant issued
Cypriot police are now searching for Metsos.

“An arrest warrant has been issued and if found he will be arrested immediately,” a police officer at the police station in Larnaka told the Guardian. “He has broken his pledge to be here.”

Metsos was first stopped at Larnaca airport by officers acting on an Interpol “red notice”, moments before he was about to board a plane bound for Budapest.

Appearing before a district court judge, Metsos was told he could walk free, pending an extradition hearing within 30 days, if he posted €20 000 bail.

Metsos, who is thought to have been travelling on a Canadian passport, is believed to have returned immediately to his hotel in Larnaca, which he had booked out of only hours before.

Suspects arrested on the island are almost always held in custody for fear they may attempt to flee through the internationally unrecognised Turkish-run enclave of northern Cyprus. Both Turkey and Syria are only short boat rides away.

Middle man
According to court documents, Metsos was the go-between for a network of agents across the United States. He is accused of receiving money from a Russian agent, which he then allegedly buried in a park in northern Virginia for the other spies to retrieve.

The strategic Mediterranean island has long been considered a staging post for spies. The US and Russian embassies stand only metres apart in the capital, Nicosia. Topped with satellite dishes and listening devices, both spend an inordinate amount of time trying to track each other.

Cyprus has a flourishing Russian community, with Russian advertisements, media and shops selling Russian goods in abundance. Unlike any other European Union state, the Cypriot government is also headed by a communist party, Akel, that has strong ties to Moscow.—Guardian News and Media 2010