MOSCOW, January 2. /TASS/. Russia has allowed consular access to US citizen Paul Whelan detained in Moscow on suspicion of carrying out espionage, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Wednesday.

"Russia has granted consular access to Whelan," the diplomat said.

On Monday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said US citizen Paul Whelan was detained on December 28, 2018 in Moscow while on a spy mission. A criminal investigation was opened against the US citizen on charges of espionage. He might face between 10 and 20 years in jail.