Moscow court extends custody of U.S. spy suspect

The Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow on Friday extended the detention of U.S. citizen Paul Whelan until August 29 for alleged espionage.

The court session was held behind closed doors, but the public was allowed at the pronouncement of the ruling.

Whelan was detained in Moscow by the Russian Federal Security Service on Dec. 28, 2018. His lawyer said the detainee had received a USB drive containing information of a state secret, while he expected it to contain open cultural information.

If convicted, Whelan faces up to 20 years in jail. But his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding.

The 48-year-old was a U.S. Marine and is currently the head of the security service of a firm producing automobile parts. He also has British, Irish and Canadian citizenship.