MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/.The latest attempt by US spy agencies to recruit a representative of a Russian overseas organization took place in Washington on January 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, told the Rossiya One TV channel on Wednesday.

"One of the latest attempts made to recruit an official of a Russian overseas establishment took place on January 14," she said. "It did take place in Washington and the recruiters targeted an official of a Russian overseas organization."

"The team is on the verge of leaving for good, it's precisely at the point of leaving and should be busy handing over the office to the new president and his team, yet the methods for their efforts against Russia are only gathering more and more steam," Zakharova said.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier the US had been beefing up efforts to recruit Russian diplomats throughout Barack Obama's second presidential term.