MOSCOW: A Russian court has extended the detention of a South Korean national, surnamed Baek, who is being held on suspicion of espionage, for an additional month, according to reports from local media.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Moscow court ruled to keep Baek in custody until mid-November, rejecting his appeal against a prior decision that had extended his detention from June to September. Baek was initially detained in late February at the Lefortovo detention facility in Moscow, following his arrest over allegations of passing classified information to foreign intelligence services.

Baek, associated with the Global Love Rice Sharing Foundation, a South Korean Christian aid organization, was based in Vladivostok at the time of his arrest. His work primarily involved assisting North Korean defectors in their escape and providing further support to them. The ongoing legal proceedings mark the second extension of Baek’s detention as he was previously scheduled to be released on November 15.

The sp
ecifics of the charges against Baek have not been disclosed by Russian authorities, and his defense claims that he has been wrongfully accused. Meanwhile, discussions between the South Korean government and Russian officials regarding Baek’s case are ongoing.