FSB Arrests Khabarovsk Man Accused of Spying for New Zealand

July 27, 2026 FSB Russia’s FSB security service said Monday that it arrested a man in the Far East city of Khabarovsk on accusations of spying for New Zealand. In a statement, the FSB said the 55-year-old man contacted New Zealand intelligence services, which are part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance that includes Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States. The man, who was not identified by name, was alleged to have gathered and shared information “that could be used against Russia’s national security.” In a separate statement, the FSB claimed that New Zealand had “recruited” the man to gather intelligence on Russia’s defense cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. An FSB video released by Russian media showed uniformed agents arresting a man on the street and searching his home, where officials allegedly uncovered large amounts of U.S. dollar bills and Five Eyes paraphernalia. A court placed the man in pre-trial detention on charges of treason, the FSB said. If found guilty, he could face life in prison. The Moscow Times contacted New Zealand’s Embassy in Moscow for comment. Read more about: New Zealand , FSB , Espionage , Khabarovsk Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Latvian MEP Secretly Worked for Russia’s FSB for Decades – The Insider Tatjana Zdanoka has allegedly been working under the guidance of FSB “handlers” since at least 2005. 2 Min read Russian Couple Detained for Allegedly Spying on Defense Enterprise A couple in Nizhny Tagil has been detained by the FSB for allegedly spying for Ukraine. 1 Min read opinion Andrei Soldatov Evan Gershkovich's Arrest Means No Journalist Can Feel Safe in Russia Today All foreign journalists, and by default all foreign nationals, are now potentially fair game for Putin and the Russian security services. 3 Min read Putin Urges FSB ‘Comrades’ to Step Up Counterintelligence Work The Russian president addressed senior members of the country's intelligence service on Tuesday. 2 Min read