RUSSIA: AMERICAN CITIZEN RICHARD BLISS, CHARGED WITH SPYING IN RUSSIA, HAS ARRIVED IN MOSCOW ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

Record ID: 244295

  • Title: RUSSIA: AMERICAN CITIZEN RICHARD BLISS, CHARGED WITH SPYING IN RUSSIA, HAS ARRIVED IN MOSCOW ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
  • Date: 24th December 1997
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 24, 1997) (RTV-ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/GV: EXTERIOR OF VNUKOVO AIRPORT OUTSIDE OF MOSCOW (2 SHOTS) 0.15 2. GV: RICHARD BLISS WITH QUALCOMM EMPLOYEES ROB HOLT AND DAN SULLIVAN ENTER AIRPORT HALL/ JOURNALISTS (2 SHOTS) 0.23 3. CU: BLISS SAYING THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW IF HE WILL MAKE IT HOME FOR CHRISTMAS DINN
  • Embargoed: 8th January 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2K4X0SK0OJFNCDTT22HD20F4
  • Story Text: INTRO: An American citizen charged with spying in Russia has arrived in Moscow on his way back to the United States to spend Christmas at home.

    The telephone technician Richard Bliss, allowed by the Russian authorities to go home for Christmas, landed in Moscow on Wednesday (December 24).

    The plane, delayed by bad weather, took off from the southern town of Rostov-on-Don, where Bliss was arrested on November 25. He is due to fly to the United States later.

    Bliss, 29, was accused of gathering secret information while performing surveillance work using satellite equipment.

    He was formally charged with espionage, a charge which can carry a jail term of up to 20 years. Bliss, his company and United States (U.S.) officials have all denied he was spying.

    Bliss had been set free on bail but not allowed to leave the area of his arrest. Investigators on Tuesday gave him permission to go home for Christmas but bad weather has been casting doubt on his hopes of reaching home by Christmas.

    Officials said Bliss would travel by a regular flight from Rostov to Moscow rather than using a company-chartered jet.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register