Long wait for Russian accused of spying
By KUNA
A former parliamentary researcher accused of spying for Russia will have to wait for more than nine months to try to clear her name and remain in Britain, a judge ruled here Thursday.
Katia Zatuliveter, 25, is fighting deportation amid suspicions that she used her position as an assistant to Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock to pass information to Russian intelligence. But Russian Ms Zatuliveter, who is on bail on stringent conditions, will not be able to challenge her deportation until a four-day hearing at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) starting on October 18.
Miss Zatuliveter, was detained in early December last year pending deportation to Russia.
Afterwards, she said in a statement that she has been released from an immigration detention centre but she has to obey strict bail conditions.
She said she has never worked for the Russian intelligence services and that she is determined to stay in Britain to clear her name.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said Britain has not responded to questions about Zatuliveter’s detention.
It has alleged that “influential forces” in Britain were trying to sabotage bilateral relations, without identifying them.
