Man arrested in Russia over accusations of spying for New Zealand

A man has been arrested in Russia on accusations of spying for New Zealand.

In a statement, the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said the Russian Federation had "identified and stopped the illegal activity of a citizen of the Russian Federation suspected of committing treason".

The FSB said it had established that a Khabarovsk resident, born in 1971, "proactively established" contact with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.

New Zealand's intelligence services are part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance which includes Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States.

The FSB said the contact was done for "for selfish motives, on instructions from a foreign intelligence service, using foreign email services and instant messengers, transmitted information to the foreign intelligence service that could be used against the security of the Russian Federation".

The FSB said it had opened a criminal case against the man and he was being investigated under Article 275 (treason) of the Russian Criminal Code.

The man has been remanded in custody.

"The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) once again draws the attention of citizens to the fact that treason is punishable by criminal penalties under Russian law, including life imprisonment."

The Moscow Times reported the man was arrested in the south-east city of Khabarovsk.

Video footage by FSB shown by Russian media showed authorities rushing over to the man on a street pavement and pinning him to the ground before locking him in handcuffs.

The video showed the man being taken into custody and his home searched.

The information hasn't been independently verified.

Both Foreign Minister Winston Peters and the minister with responsibility for the spy agencies Chris Penk referred comment to the NZSIS.

The NZSIS and the Russian Embassy have been approached for comment.