Watch: Russian Diplomat Shocked As FSB Nabs Him For Selling Secrets To US

Former Russian diplomat Arseniy Konovalov has been sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony for treason. He was found guilty of passing state secrets to the United States. This alleged treason occurred during his assignment as an assistant to Russia's consulate general in Houston from 2014 to 2017. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced his conviction on Friday. Konovalov was detained in March of the previous year on suspicion of espionage. A video circulating online shows his shock and horror at the moment of his arrest. The FSB claims Konovalov proactively transferred secret information to American intelligence for monetary compensation. After his arrest, he was placed in a holding cage at a Moscow court. In addition to his prison sentence, Konovalov was fined 100,000 roubles. The nature of the leaked information and any evidence have not been disclosed. U.S. officials have not commented on the case. There is speculation that the CIA recruited Konovalov. Investigations into espionage and treason have reportedly increased in Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.