JERUSALEM — Russia has expelled Israel’s military attache at its Moscow embassy on spying allegations, the Israeli military said on Wednesday, dismissing the charges as unfounded.“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) military attache and ministry of defence representative in Russia, an IDF colonel, was detained for investigation last week by Russian authorities, on suspicion of spying,” a joint statement by the defence ministry and the military spokesman’s office said.
The statement did not name the man, who it said had been due to complete his posting in two months.
“Security authorities in Israel completed a thorough investigation and concluded that these claims were unfounded,” it added.
Military sources identified the envoy as air force Colonel Vadim Leiderman and said he returned to Israel several days ago after being questioned by Russian authorities over espionage allegations and then told to leave the country immediately.
IsraelÂ’s state-run Channel One television said he was arrested while sitting at a cafe with a Russian.
“He was suspected by the Russians of running several local residents,” the network said. “He was taken in for questioning in Moscow about 10 days ago, the police asked him some questions. Because of his diplomatic immunity they were not able to do more but he was asked to immediately leave the country and he did so,” it added.
It said that in Israel he was “cleared of all suspicion” after interrogation by his military superiors and by agents of the Shin Bet security agency.
Ynet, the website of top-selling Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot, said Leiderman “maintains that the allegations are baseless and false and that the entire incident is rooted in a misunderstanding.”
“The past few days have seen hectic efforts by Israel to appease Moscow and stop the already grave diplomatic incident from escalating further, but the Russians seem adamant to exhaust all the legal measures at their disposal against the officer.
“Israel has substantial political and security interests in Russia and is now concentrating on damage control,” Ynet said.
Israel daily Haaretz’s website said Leiderman “was arrested during a May 12 meeting, in what appeared to be a violation of his diplomatic immunity.”
It said news of the affair was blocked in Israel until Wednesday evening by a court gag order.