The Russian ambassador in Denmark has expressed a demand for the immediate release of a Russian woman who was arrested and charged on Tuesday for assisting a foreign intelligence service with operations in Denmark. According to a post on Facebook from the Russian embassy, as reported by Ekstra Bladet, Ambassador Vladimir Barbin sharply criticizes the actions of the Danish authorities. Barbin calls the arrest “a brazen and inexcusable provocation” by the Danish security service, which, according to him, is trying to intimidate Russian citizens and discredit their organizations’ connections to Russia. This is evident from the ambassador’s statements in the post.
The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) confirmed on Tuesday to DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) that the woman has been arrested and charged. PET also stated that the case is connected to a story about a Russian state fund that has been covered in several European media outlets. Last week, DR reported that a state-owned Russian fund has been financing various projects and individuals in Denmark and other European countries with substantial amounts for several years. According to DR’s information, some of these funds have allegedly gone to the woman who is now in custody.