Russia seeks talks with diplomat defector

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Russian officials are eager to speak to one of their diplomats who defected to the United States, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said Monday.

Intelligence experts link the defection of Sergei Tretyakov last October to an FBI investigation of accused spy and FBI veteran agent, Robert Hanssen.

"We asked the State Department and the American authorities to tell us how we can meet with him. We are still waiting," said Russian Amb. Sergey Lavrov.

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Lavrov refused to answer questions about Tretyakov's role as the former first secretary of the Russian mission for the United Nations.

The Russian request comes as an intelligence source tells CNN that the Russian embassy's press attache, Vladimir Frolov, was a handler for Hanssen.

Hanssen, 56, a 25-year veteran of the FBI and a counterintelligence expert, was arrested February 18 and charged with spying for the Soviet Union and later Russia over a period of 15 years, dating back to the waning days of the Cold War. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison.

Frolov has been permanently recalled to Moscow, unexpectedly cutting short his second tour of duty. The source could not say why Frolov was pulled back to Moscow. The FBI had no comment.

Intelligence sources also told CNN the Bush administration is considering whether to demand a widespread withdrawal of Russian diplomats the United States suspects of being intelligence officers.

Law enforcement sources said the number of Russian diplomats thought to be spies has risen to Cold War levels and that U.S. agents are overwhelmed trying to keep track of them.

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