A suspect wanted by the US for involvement in a Russian spy ring has gone missing in Cyprus, less than 24 hours after being released on bail, officials said, DPA reported.
Robert Christopher Metsos, 55, was arrested at Larnaca airport trying to fly to Budapest, Hungary in the early hours on Tuesday. He is wanted for money laundering and espionage. Reports said he is a Canadian with a US passport.
Metsos appeared before an island magistrate which ordered him released on 20,000 euros (24,410 dollars) bail, but then failed to report to a police station on Wednesday evening. His extradition hearing was scheduled for July 29.
Cypriot authorities were preparing a warrant for his arrest after they searched Metsos' apartment in the southern coastal port town of Larnaca but could not find him.
US authorities have already arrested 10 people on charges of spying on behalf of Russia over the course of 20 years.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for acting illegally as an agent of a foreign government, plus an additional 20 years on the money laundering charges.
Metsos is believed to be the 11th suspect US authorities say is involved in a spy ring that was responsible for recruiting political sources and gathering information for the Russian government.