Alleged spy ring paymaster skips bail in Cyprus

The alleged ringleader of the Russian spy ring exposed in the US at the weekend has skipped bail in Cyprus – to the surprise of nobody except, it seems, the Cypriot authorities.

Christopher Metsos, the alleged 11th member of the deep cover network, was arrested on the island on Tuesday at Larnaca airport as he attempted to board a plane for Budapest, reportedly on a Canadian passport. He had been flagged up by an Interpol alert after being accused of channelling funds to the other 10 alleged members of the Russian spy ring.

Almost unbelievably, when Metsos came before a judge yesterday, he was allowed to post €20,000 bail and walk free – as long as he promised to return to Larnaca police station (above) daily. Normally, suspects are held in custody in Cyprus because of the risk of flight to the Turkish-occupied north of the island.

Unsurprisingly, Metsos immediately skipped bail and may already be in Turkey, which is only a short boat ride away.

An officer at the police station in Larnaka told the Guardian: "An arrest warrant has been issued and if found he will be arrested immediately. He has broken his pledge to be here." ·