Russian woman working for a British lawmaker suspicion of espionage

The Sunday Times reported Katia Zatuliveter,a young Russian woman working for a British lawmaker is facing deportation after she was detained her on suspicion of espionage.The paper reported that she worked for the Russian intelligence as a “sleeper” agent.

The Russian embassy in London could not be reached for comment.she was arrested on Thursday morning and taken to an immigration detention center in London, before being moved to another center where she is being held and putting her appeal together.

Zatuliveter has been working for Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock  who sits on parliament’s defense select committee which examines defense policy but has no access to secret material.The paper said her removal was approved by Home Secretary (interior minister) Theresa May after being briefed about her activities.  Hancock said in a statement,”She is not a Russian spy. I know nothing about espionage, but she has been subjected to a deportation order,”. He said she would appeal moves to deport her. He said his assistant, who had worked for him for close to three years, had passed strict security vetting procedures to work in parliament.”Nobody has shown me any evidence to support the view that she is any way a threat to the United Kingdom,” Hancock said.A security source told the Sunday Times Zatuliveter’s presence was not “conducive to national security,” and the intention was to “show her the door.”The paper said it was the first time since the end of the Cold War that someone working in parliament had been accused of spying for the Russians.

Hancock said  that the domestic security service,MI5 had never raised any concerns about her with him.The Home Office said it could not comment on individual cases or confirm deportation orders were in place. London’s Metropolitan police referred all queries to the UK Border Agency  who was not answering calls.