Russian prosecutors called yesterday for a 20-year prison sentence for a US businessman, Mr Edmond Pope, at his secret spy trial in Moscow, Mr Pope's lawyer, Mr Pavel Astakhov, told reporters.
The sentence would be the maximum allowable on the spy charges Mr Pope faces. Prosecutors also said they wanted him to be ordered to pay seven billion roubles - more than $250 million - for "damage to Russia", Mr Astakhov said. Prosecutors declined to comment.
"He [the prosecutor] asked for a maximum sentence with an additional payment of seven billion roubles, which means a 20-year sentence and a seven-billion-rouble fine for damage to Russia," Mr Astakhov said outside the Moscow courtroom.
Mr Pope, a former US naval intelligence officer, has said he was researching openly available military technology, but Russia says he bought secrets.
Mr Astakhov said the prosecutors had even accused Mr Pope of continuing to spy while the trial was under way.
President Clinton has personally asked for him to be freed on health grounds. Mr Pope (54) is in remission from a rare form of bone cancer. But President Putin has said the judicial process must run its course.