A 60-year-old Dutch diplomat has reportedly been arrested in The Hague on suspicion of passing sensitive documents to German sleeper agents connected to flame-haired spy Anna Chapman.
Known only as Raymond P., the man was detained after allegedly passing 450 files to the agents, who had operated in Germany for more than 20 years, German news magazine Focus reported.
The man has refused to cooperate with investigators.
The agents, a couple that moved to? Germany in? 1990 via Mexico using false Austrian passports, reportedly maintained close contact with Chapman and coordinated with the same Foreign Intelligence Service handlers.
The couple was arrested in October 2011 in? Marburg, a? university town in? the central state of? Hesse, after being accused of spying for the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, or the? SVR.
The arrests also stirred criticism of Russia's use of outdated spying technology, as they were caught using 1970s-style encrypted radio messages from? Moscow.
Anna Chapman, recognizable for her good looks and blazing red hair, was arrested in the United States in June 2010 as part of a sting operation that netted her and nine other alleged sleeper agents. She has kept a high profile since being deported back to Russia, leveraging her notoriety to fuel a budding political career and appearances in television and magazines.