Trial Of Alleged U.S. Spy in Russia Starts

U.S. businessman Edmond Pope was due to go on trial on espionage charges behind closed doors in a Russian court on Wednesday, but proceedings were delayed to give him time to study the indictment, his lawyer said.

Reporters were left outside the Moscow City Court as discussion got under way in the case which has become an irritant in relations between Russia and the United States.

Pope, a former intelligence officer who suffers from a rare form of bone cancer, is alleged to have made contact with a Russian scientist as part of attempts to gather information on a Russian torpedo.

Pope could face 20 years in prison if convicted.







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