Moscow: Russia said on Monday its security services had detained a US citizen in Moscow accused of spying, latest in a series of espionage cases between Russia and West.The FSB domestic security service said American was arrested on Friday "while carrying out an act of espionage".A criminal case had been opened, FSB said in a statement, under Article 276 of Russian Criminal Code, which allows for sentences of up to 20 years in prison.The statement identified American in Russian, using a name that appeared to translate as Paul Whelan.No other details were immediately available.The arrest came with Moscow embroiled in a number of spy scandals with West and after President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of using espionage cases to try undermine an increasingly powerful Russia.US intelligence services have accused Moscow of interfering in 2016 presidential election and earlier this month convicted Russian Maria Butina of acting as an illegal foreign agent.Butina faces up to six months in prison, followed by likely deportation.Prosecutors said she launched a plan in March 2015 to develop ties with Republican Party with aim of influencing US foreign policy.Russian military intelligence agents were also accused in poisoning earlier this year of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England.The Skripals survived but a local woman died after picking up a discarded perfume bottle that police think was used to carry out attack.Relations between Russia and West have hit a new low following incidents, with United States and Europe hitting Moscow with waves of sanctions over spy scandals and conflict in Ukraine.In his annual press conference this month, Mr Putin said Western pressure was aimed at restraining a resurgent Russia."There is only one aim: to hold back Russia's development as a possible competitor," President said.

"This is connected with growth of Russia's power."(Except for headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)