AP 08/18 0621 Soviet-US Spy

Copyright. 1992. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

   MOSCOW (AP) -- A U.S. citizen accused of spying has been
detained by security officials in the northern Russian city of
Murmansk, a news agency reported today.
   This American, identified only as Levitus, was apprehended as a
Russian gave him computer disks containing classified information
on research in the Arctic Ocean, ITAR-Tass said, citing unnamed
sources.
   The Russian was identified as Yu. Avrutin.
   Levitus, whose visa was reported to have expired, works as a
representative for a U.S. company in Murmansk, ITAR-Tass said. It
did not specify which firm.
   Murmansk is the closest city to the Severodvinsk naval base on
the Barents Sea. Severodvinsk is the home port of the nuclear
submarines and surface warships of Russia's Northern Fleet.
   ITAR-Tass also quoted a U.S. State Department official,
identified as P. Napper, as saying that the detention of Levitus
was "not quite lawful."
   A U.S. embassy spokesman in Moscow contacted by The Associated
Press said he was unaware of the case and not able to provide any
immediate comment.