MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI) – The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) has filed a petition with Moscow’s Lefortovsky District Court demanding to extend detention for Paul Whelan charged with espionage until May 28, RAPSI has been told in the court’s press service.

The motion will be considered on February 22.

Whelan is a citizen of the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. He is the chief safety officer of BorgWarner, an American worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. The foreigner was arrested in late 2018 during “a spying mission”, according to the Federal Security Service. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

The Foreign Ministry of Russia reported earlier that papers classified as state secret were seized from Whelan during his arrest on December 28. His lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov has confirmed this information.