Moscow (CNN) -- Russia expressed concern Friday over restrictions by British authorities on Russian national Yekaterina Zatuliveter, who was arrested in Britain several weeks ago on suspicion of spying and faces possible deportation.
Zatuliveter, 25, a parliamentary assistant to Liberal Democrat Mike Hancock, has been questioned several times about her possible connections with Russian intelligence. She was detained in London early last month as a suspected "sleeper" agent spying in British Parliament.
"We are seriously concerned about the situation around Russian citizen Y. Zatuliveter, whose freedom has been restricted by the British authorities for six weeks now," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday in a posting on its website.
A preliminary court hearing in London announced Thursday that her appeal of the Home Secretary's request that she be deported will be considered on October 18, it said.
"This means that Y. Zatuliveter is doomed to nearly a year's existence in conditions that differ little from house arrest," said the Russian statement, which added that her passport has been taken away, she is forbidden to meet with anyone but relatives, lawyers and doctors, and cannot visit public places. In addition, she must spend her nights at her residence, which police check regularly, it said.
"However, the British authorities have not just failed to prove our fellow citizen to be guilty of any offense against the United Kingdom but have not even gone to the trouble of bringing any charges against her," it said. "We consider this state of affairs unacceptable. We will continue to demand that British authorities come up with more specific grievances against Y. Zatuliveter or immediately give her complete freedom of action".
Britain's Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases. CNN
