LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- British authorities should either charge a Russian woman who was arrested or drop stringent terms of release on bail, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
Katiia Zatuliveter, 25, was working as an aide to Mike Hancock, a Liberal Democrat member of Parliament who sits on the Defense Select Committee. She was arrested Dec. 2 and freed on bail 11 days later.
The Foreign Ministry said the conditions of her release are unacceptable, RIA Novosti reported.
"Her passport was seized, she was forbidden to meet with anyone other than relatives, lawyers and doctors, and was not allowed to visit public places," the ministry said. "The British authorities have not only been unable to prove that our citizen is in any way guilty, but has not even named any charges against her".
Zatuliveter has denied using her position with Hancock to gather information for Russian intelligence agencies. British authorities say the only current charges are immigration violations.
Because one of the witnesses is a top British intelligence official who will not be available until October, a hearing in the case is scheduled Oct. 18 through Oct. 21. UPI
