Moscow has lashed out at the United States over charges against three alleged Russian spies in New York, saying the allegations are part of an "anti-Russian campaign" and will further undermine relations between the two nations.
The Foreign Ministry issued an angrily worded statement on January 27, a day after U.S. federal prosecutors announced charges against three men they said were part of a Russian spy ring.
"One gets the impression that the American authorities have again decided to resort to their favorite practice of pumping up spy passions," the ministry quoted spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich as saying.
He said that "the consequences of such actions, which will worsen the bilateral atmosphere and undermine the prospects for interaction, will remain on the conscience of their initiators."
Lukashevich said U.S. authorities had provided no evidence supporting the charges and demanded consular access to Evgeny Buryakov, who was arrested in New York on January 26.
The two other men charged no longer live in the United States and were not arrested.