U.S. blacklists 165 foreign companies over spying suspicions

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States Commerce Department has blacklisted 165 foreign companies and individuals in connection with the activities of several people from the former republics of the USSR suspected of spying activity related to export of a range of items, the Department said in a statement, according to RIA Novosti.

The companies and individuals on "a list of organizations" face special restrictions on getting a license for export of designated items from the U.S. The Congress Department says these individuals and companies are unlikely to ever get those licenses in future.

The New York FBI said on Wednesday, Oct 3, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch had charged 11 suspects with illegal export of military technology to Russia, namely microelectronic components destined for Russia's intelligence and military agencies.

The main suspect, described as an "agent of the Russian government," was named as 46 year-old Alexander Fishenko, who heads an American company called Arc Electronics, and a Moscow-registered company called Apex System. Fishenko, who holds Russian and US passports, faces a maximum 55 year sentence if found guilty. The U.S. authorities have also named Alexander Posobilov and Viktoria Klebanova as the other main suspects holding key positions in the company.

Another three suspects remain at liberty, the FBI said.