Couple suspected of espionage over link to Russian agents

Czech police suspect a married couple of espionage due to their connection with Russian intelligence agents who carried out a deadly operation on Czech territory in 2014, Radiožurnál and Respekt reported on Monday.

The news outlets said that detectives believe that Nikolai Shaposhnikov, an ex-Russian solider with a Czech passport, and his wife Elena wrote emails about sensitive arms deals to GRU major general Andrej Averyanov, whose unit is suspected of blowing up arms stores in Vrbětice eight years ago, killing two people and causing major material damage.

Shaposhnikov also met Averyanov in Portugal, according to the former’s daughter, who reporters spoke to in North Moravia.