Russia: 71 foreign spies unmasked in 2007

• Tweet

MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The director of Russia's Federal Security Service said Wednesday that 71 alleged foreign spies had been discovered operating inside Russia this year.

Meeting with the heads of various Russian media outlets, Nikolai Patrushev said that 71 spies and 22 foreign security officers were found inside Russia's borders and some of those intelligence officials were conducting illegal operations, Itar-Tass reported.

"In 2007, 22 foreign security officers and 71 spies were unmasked. Eleven foreign security officers and spies, who were caught red handed during their unlawful activity, were extradited from Russia," Patrushev said.

While the Federal Security Service official noted that activity in Russia by foreign secret services had increased this year, the country's struggles against those efforts had yielded some benefits.

"Some positive results were achieved in the struggle with foreign intelligence services," he said.