Sweden withdraws spy charges against Russian researcher

Swedish Chief Prosecutor Tomas Lindstrand dropped charges against a Russian researcher and Swedish authority released him from custody on Friday, Radio Sweden reported.

The 29-year-old Russian researcher was arrested in February on charges of spying for a foreign power at Uppsala University's agricultural genetic laboratory, where he was studying plant viruses.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said the arrest can affect relations with Sweden.

The Chief Prosecutor decided to drop the case for lack of evidence.

Russian news agency Interfax reported that the Russian government welcomed the release and regretted that their citizen was kept in custody for so long.

Source: Xinhua