Russia: 'Spy' case regretful

A US employee accused of spying and ordered to leave Russia has flown out of Moscow, it is reported.

Russian NTV broadcast video that appeared to show Ryan Fogle passing through passport control and security at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.

Russian security services claimed earlier this week that Fogle, a third secretary at the US embassy, had been caught trying to recruit a Russian agent.

Read more: Russia: 'Spy' case regretful

An attempt by a US diplomat to recruit a Russian agent for the Central Intelligence Agency is an impediment to efforts to improve US-Russian relations, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said.

In the first Kremlin comment on the detention and expulsion of the diplomat, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Itar-Tass news agency that the incident was regretful. But he did not threaten any further action over the incident.

A spokesman for the Russian President says the espionage case does not help strengthen relations with the US.

The Russia Today website has published a photograph of what it claims is a letter, found in a US diplomat's possession, that was to be used to recruit a Russian as an intelligence officer.

The website also provided the following transcript of part of the letter:

It goes on to describe how the recipient should open a Gmail account at an Internet cafe, instructing the recipient to expect an email response in "exactly one week".

See pictures of the alleged CIA agent being detained in Moscow

The Russian foreign ministry has described the alleged attempt of a US diplomat to recruit a Russian intelligence officer as a "provocative action".

Russia's foreign ministry has said it has ordered the expulsion of a US diplomat accused of trying to recruit spies in Russia.

Russian security services have released images showing what they claim is the US diplomat Ryan Fogle being detained in Moscow, and objects found in his possession.

Security services said Fogle had been handed over to US Embassy officials.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the US Ambassador over the detention of an American citizen accused of trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer to the CIA.

Russian news agency RT has published pictures which it claims show the arrest of American Ryan Fogle in Moscow.

The pictures appear to show a man being pinned to the ground and also include shots of what are called, "means to change a person's appearance" and cash.