A military court in Moscow has opened a trial against a former intelligence officer accused of helping U.S. authorities arrest a Russian spy ring.
Alexander Poteyev has been charged with high treason and desertion. Prosecutors claim that he tipped off American authorities about Anna Chapman and her fellow deep-cover agents. He is being tried in his absence.
Court spokeswoman Lyudmila Klimenko said in televised remarks Monday that a panel of judges had started the trial, which will be closed to public.
News reports say Poteyev controlled U.S.-based spy operations from Moscow and fled to the United States just before Washington announced that it had uncovered the 10 spies last summer.
(AP)
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