(Adds comment from the Swedish prosecutor in paragraph 7)
HELSINKI/MOSCOW, April 7 (RIA Novosti, Olga Andrianova) - All charges against the Russian scientist accused of spying in Sweden have been dropped and the scientist released from custody, a source in Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The Russian Embassy in Sweden confirmed that Andrei Zamyatnin had been released.
"We are pleased that common sense prevailed... Russia insisted on Andrei Zamyatnin's innocence from the very beginning and demanded his unconditional release," press attache Anatoly Kargopolov said.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's reaction was less restrained.
"The charges against him were absolutely fabricated. His release was long overdue. No specific evidence was provided against him," Lavrov said before adding that Zamyatnin's freedom was the most important.
He said the scientist was currently staying at the embassy's hotel but refused to comment on his plans for the future.
Swedish prosecutors said Zamyatnin had reported information about his research and his colleagues to the Russian Embassy but it was not classified.
Earlier, Zamyatnin's lawyer, Ula Salomonsson, said that her defendant intended to sue the Swedish authorities for tarnishing his professional reputation.
Police detained 30-year-old Zamyatnin, working as an assistant at an agricultural university in Uppsala researching plant viruses, on February 15. A court ruled to remand him in custody on three times.
Sweden's counter-espionage service (SAPO) said the researcher was being held on suspicion of spying for a certain country, but is still refusing to unveil either details of the investigation or which country Zamyatnin was allegedly spying for.
Earlier, a local newspaper quoted Swedish Chief Prosecutor Tomas Lindstrand as saying that Zamyatnin's activities could have a negative effect on Sweden's security and defense capabilities.
