Russians Release U.S. Spy Suspect -- Richard Bliss, Former Resident Of Longview, Freed For Holidays

WASHINGTON - A former Longview, Wash., man who was arrested and charged with espionage in Russia last month is being allowed to leave that country under an agreement with the Russian security service, the State Department said today.

Richard Bliss, an employee of Qualcom, a San Diego-based maker of wireless communications gear, was arrested in the city of Rostov-on-Don, about 600 miles south of Moscow, on Nov. 25 and charged for using electronic land-surveying equipment near a Russian military installation.

Bliss, 29, had been freed on bail this month after sharp protests from the United States, but he was not allowed to leave the area of his arrest.

Russia's Federal Security Service had said he would have to remain in Rostov-on-Don pending trial.

State Department spokesman James Foley said today the release agreement was between Bliss, Qualcom and the Russians.

Bliss' lawyer, Valery Petrayev, said Bliss was scheduled to leave Russia by plane at noon today, PST.

His stepmother, Lou Bliss, was setting up a manger scene at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Longview when she heard the news.

"This is the only Christmas present we wanted. This pretty much sums it all up," she said.

Bliss will arrive in San Diego at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Qualcom has chartered a flight to San Diego for his father, Robert, and stepmother so they can welcome him home.

Bliss may have to return to Russia to face the charges, but for

now, Lou Bliss said, she was happy he will be home for the holidays.

"I'm elated," she said. "My heart's beating kind of fast. My husband is a little tearful," she said.

Lou Bliss said the family was told that Richard Bliss' return home was a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Russians for the holiday season.

Bliss' mother, Judy Bradley of Carson City, Nev., was also told of his release, the State Department said.

Petrayev, who has always maintained his client's innocence, said Bliss had been allowed home until Jan. 10 but might not be recalled back to Russia then. He said the release was a sign the Federal Security Service would not bring formal spying charges.

"They let him go for Christmas, New Year, until Jan. 10 for the moment. Maybe longer, it depends on whether the FSB (security service) comes up with any evidence that he was spying," he said by telephone from Rostov-on-Don.

"Who sends a spy home for Christmas? It's funny!" Petrayev added.

The Federal Security Service is the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.

Bliss's charge of espionage can carry a jail term of up to 20 years. He was accused of gathering secret information while performing surveillance work using satellite equipment.

Bliss, his company and U.S. officials have all denied that he was spying. They said he was using standard land-surveying equipment as part of his work.

Qualcom was working on projects in Chelyabinsk, Rostov and Moscow, and in October announced the launch of a high-tech $5.8 million wireless network in Rostov.

Bliss was freed this month after the U.S. ambassador to Russia, James Collins, appealed for his freedom, and after Qualcom provided a written guarantee, the Russian news agency Tass said. The nature of the guarantee was not specified.

The subject of Bliss' arrest was also brought up by Vice President Al Gore at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.

Material from Reuters and The Associated Press was included in this report.