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Russian Colonel Sentenced For Selling 'Secret' Maps To U.S.


Moscow City Court has sentenced a former Russian army colonel to 12 years in jail for selling what's described as "secret" maps to a U.S. agent.

Vladimir Lazar was found guilty of turning over some 7,000 topographical maps of Russian territory to a U.S. agent in 2008.

During his sentencing on May 31, court officials said the maps contained "secret" information about Russian government installations that could be used for planning air strikes and infantry raids.

Investigators said Lazar started cooperating with U.S. intelligence in 1994 and ended his active duty with the Russian military in 2003.

He was charged with espionage in April.

In a separate case, a Russian rocket scientist was sentenced in February to 13 years in prison for providing secret data to the U.S.

Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS

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