Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia for suspected spying, appears in a photo provided by the Whelan family on January 1. (REUTERS Photo)
MOSCOW, January 3 (Reuters): Russia has charged former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan with espionage, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing what it described as an informed source.
Russia's FSB security service detained Whelan on December 28 in Moscow on suspicion of spying but did not disclose the nature of his alleged espionage activities.
Reuters could not independently verify the Interfax report.
