Cyprus police issue arrest warrant for missing alleged spy
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Cyprus police on Thursday posted a picture of missing alleged spy Robert Christopher Metsos, considered by the American authorities to be a high ranking member of an 11-man ring spying upon the United States for the Russian government.
"We have issued an arrest warrant against Metsos for disobeying a court order to report to a police station," Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said.
He added police are requesting information from the public which might lead to his arrest.
The suspect was described as of medium build, balding with grey hear, rimless spectacles and a neat moustache.
The picture posted by Cyprus police was taken in Cyprus two days ago, shortly before he was released on bail.
Metsos, aged 54, failed to report to a police station in the southern coastal city of Larnaca as ordered by a court which had set him free on bail to appear at an extradition hearing on July 29.
Metsos had cleared the apartment he had moved in after leaving his hotel room where he had stayed for 11 days before his arrest while trying to leave for Budapest.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca told reporters there are certain indications as to where the suspect is now, but he refused to give any details.
There is strong speculation that he might have crossed over the Green Line dividing Cyprus into the Greek and Turkish parts.
There are six checkpoints between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot parts of Cyprus but crossing illegally into either part is possible through several points of the loosely guarded confrontation line.
Sources of the Turkish Cypriot authorities controlling the northern part of Cyprus said they do not know whether Metsos had crossed into their area.
The disappearance of the suspected spy has embarrassed the Cyprus government.
The police spokesman said nothing could be done after the court had ordered the suspects release from custody. He added that the police could not trail the man because this would violate his rights.
Neverthelss, Justice Minsiter Loucas Louca strongly criticized the court for not taking into consideration the high risk of the man disappearing after his release.
"I had discussed with the Attorney General the possibility of an appeal against the court's decision," Louca said.
He said the United States has not yet made any representations to the Cyprus government about the man's disappearance.
