USA

US Magazine: FBI Probing Possible Spying by Russian Cultural Center

Lower part of FBI logo (file photo)

The FBI is looking into allegations that the head of a Washington-based Russian government cultural exchange program is a spy.

A report by Mother Jones magazine claims Yury Zaytsev, of the Russian Center for Science and Culture, tried to use Americans visiting Moscow for intelligence gathering purposes.

The FBI has not commented on whether a probe is under way.

A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington denies the allegations. He told The Washington Post that the charges are reminiscent of the Cold War and are aimed at "distorting and blackening" the cultural center.