'Russian Spy' Suspect No-Show - Police

Police are hunting for the 54-year-old 'Russian spymaster' suspect who did not turned up to sign for his first day of court-ordered daily reports at Larnaca police headquarters last night.

Metsos, who was arrested Tuesday morning on allegations of espionage and money laundering, is wanted by the US in connection with being the money man for a spy ring of 'sleeper' agents.

"How would we know where he is, the police asked to keep him in custody, but the courts released him on bail," said the spokesman speaking to CyprusNewsReport.com.

On Monday, the FBI arrested 10 people they say are deep undercover Russian spies who lived ordinary lives in American suburbs, all the while gathering information for Russian secret services. Christopher Metsos, the 54-year-old Canadian citizen caught in Cyprus, is wanted for money laundering and espionage in connection with the same case, said police spokesman Michalis Katsounodos, citing Interpol.

The extradition process has been started and the suspect is expected to be sent back to the US to stand trial. To the surprise of many, he was released on bail of 20,000 euros and the extradition hearing is set for July 29th.

Although Metsos has surrendered his passport and must report to a police station on a daily basis, it is highly unusual for the courts to grant bail to foreign fugitives. According to US authorities, Metsos is the spymaster who controlled the other agents, and there are now fears that he may try to escape through the porous border in the north of Cyprus and disappear from there. The other suspects in the USA used false identities - including Irish and British passports - as a matter of course, say US authorities.

"If he doesn't show up to for his police appointment today an arrest warrant will be issued against him," said a police spokesman.