Russian national arrested in US on alleged espionage charges

A former expert, she was allegedly recruited by Russia's FSB in 2020, according to the FBI

A Russian national, Nomma Zarubina, has been arrested on suspicion of providing false information to US law enforcement and maintaining connections with Russian intelligence services.

The arrest links her to Elena Branson, a Russian intelligence operative who fled the US after being investigated for espionage-related activities.

Zarubina, a former expert and public figure, was allegedly recruited by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in 2020, operating under the codename "Alyssa."

According to FBI documents presented in late November at a Southern District of New York court hearing, Zarubina built a network of contacts among journalists and experts to further FSB operations.

Based in her hometown of Tomsk in Siberia, she allegedly attended forums and meetings in Europe and the US to carry out tasks for her FSB handlers.

In 2021, Zarubina allegedly misled FBI agents, denying any connection to Russian intelligence. However, the FBI claims her activities contradict her statements.

In 2023, self-exiled Russian opposition figure Leonid Volkov stated on social media that he saw Zarubina at a Washington event with his supporters.

She also had ties to Elena Branson, the head of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots in the US, who was charged with illegal activities for Russian intelligence and fled the country after a police search.

Despite her denials, Zarubina’s public profile shows a more complex picture. She has long supported Kremlin policies, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2014 speech on the annexation of Crimea, which was condemned by the US and the international community.

Her participation in forums and social media posts about Siberia’s political future and the potential for a "United States of Siberia" further highlight her contentious political views.

In an interview with RFE/RL, Zarubina denied working as an FSB agent but admitted to being contacted by Russian intelligence in 2020. She described an initial meeting with FSB officers, where they monitored her movements and activities.

She claimed she cooperated with the FBI, offering insights on Ukraine and other topics, and that she believed her cooperation would benefit US authorities. She expressed shock at her arrest, saying she never expected the FBI to use her information against her.

Zarubina, who fears retribution from Russian intelligence, described the situation as a “betrayal” in the eyes of the FSB. She maintains that her interactions with US authorities were not intended to harm Russian interests, but rather to provide information for the US government.

She has also downplayed the risk of deportation, citing her American-born daughter as a reason for her continued stay in the US. She was released on a $25,000 bail with several restrictions, including being barred from leaving New York, contacting Russian officials, and surrendering her passport.