Russia denies bail for former U.S. Marine accused of spying

A Russian court on Tuesday rejected an American man's bid for release on bail and instead granted an extension to his detention pending a trial on espionage charges, according to Russia's state-run Interfax news agency. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that Paul Whelan was caught "red handed" trying to recruit Russian nationals to provide intelligence to the U.S.

"The appeal of the defense (for release on bail) is not approved," Judge Dmitry Pronyakin told Whelan in the court, through a translator.

The former U.S. Marine, who also holds a British passport, was in Russia for a friend's wedding just before Christmas when he was arrested by the Russian special security services (FSB) and accused of espionage.

His family has told CBS News they first learned of his detention through media reports. U.S. intelligence and State Department sources have told CBS News they're confident Whelan is not a spy. His family also denies all the accusations against him.

The Russian lawyer representing Whelan in Moscow, Vladimir Zherebenkov, told CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer outside the court on Tuesday before the hearing that the American was found at his hotel at the time of his arrest with a flash drive containing Russian "state secrets," but he did not explain how Whelan came to be in possession of the information on the drive, and said his client was not aware that the material was considered sensitive by the Russian government.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-denies-bail-for-former-us-marine-accused-of-spying/ar-BBSzY2n