Spy wants return to Peru

A Russian secret agent sent home in a spy swap wants to leave and return with his wife to her native Peru, while continuing to live under the false name he used for 34 years.

A lawyer for the man formerly known as Juan Lazaro says her client wants to leave Russia because he does not speak Russian, and wants to be “where his wife is going”.

Lazaro’s Russian name is Mikhail Vasenkov. His wife is Vicky Pelaez, a former columnist for a Spanish-language New York City newspaper.

Both were accused of spying for Russia and deported from the US in July in a spy swap.