Russia: April 5, 2000

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A retired US Navy captain, working in Russia for an American company, was arrested as a spy. There is quite a bit of commercial espionage and data collection going on in Russia, as foreign firms look for technology, or high tech firms, to buy or invest in. The Russians look upon this investigative activity as plain old spying, while in the West it is simply considered a prudent business practice. Foreigners have run afoul of these cultural differences before. The former naval officer in this case had a background in intelligence work, which no doubt aroused Russian suspicions, and also made the man qualified for this sort of work in the first place.