Russia accuses FBI agent of hacking

Russian authorities are accusing an FBI agent of hacking.

The Federal Security Service alleges Special Agent Michael Schuler downloaded information from computers located in Russia without authorisation.

The move comes in a long-running case involving two Russians held by the US authorities on hacking charges.

Vasilii Gorshakov and Aleksei Ivanov were arrested in November 2000 after being tricked into visiting the country and divulging their passwords.

The information was later used by FBI agents to gather evidence from their servers located in Russia.

The Russian Security Service says it has opened the case as a matter of principle.

A spokesman told Radio Free Europe: "If FBI agents used hackers' methods against hackers, they might also use them on other occasions."