MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper reported two Russians detained during a Turkish Special Forces sting operation in Istanbul on April 8 had been arrested on suspicion of spying.
“We found out about the arrests only on Sunday. On that very day, a consular met and spoke with them. On Monday, he was at the preliminary hearings, but was not allowed at the judicial hearing….The police told us nothing of the charges,” Podelyshev told RIA Novosti.
The two Russians have denied their involvement, the Russian Consulate in Istanbul said.
“As [the detainees] have told us, they arrived here as tourists and they have denied any charges against them in violating law and order or in committing any other illegal activities,” Podelyshev said.
