Russia detains Israeli military attaché over spying allegations
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday announced that its military attaché, Col. Vadim Leiderman, was detained and questioned over spying allegations in Russia.
Leiderman, IDF Military Attaché and Ministry of Defense representative in Russia, underwent a surprise investigation by Russian officials on spying suspicions last weekend.
He was taken to the headquarters and released after a short while due to the diplomatic immunity due to his positions. Russian officials were not able to confirm the spying allegations.
At the end of the investigation he was ordered to leave Russian soil within 48 hours and was banned for re-entry the European country or he will be arrested. Leiderman's term in Moscow was to end in two months.
Israel said on Wednesday that Leiderman underwent a thorough investigation over the weekend by Defense officials who determined that the spying allegations were unfounded.
Col. Leiderman had been the Israeli military attaché in Russia since 2008. Russia claimed that he allegedly had contact with a foreign agent.