One of Russia's most experienced spies died on Monday in his cell in a federal prison in the United States.

Former FBI agent Robert Hansen, who for years spied for the former Soviet Union and after its collapse for Russia, died in his cell in a prison where he was serving 15 life sentences for treason.

Hansen, 79, was found "unconscious" in his cell early Monday morning at Supermax Federal Prison in Florence, Colorado. The prison confirmed the news but did not disclose the cause of his death, which was found on the spot by medical personnel.

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Hansen was arrested in 2001 and pleaded guilty to selling classified information to the Soviet Union and subsequently to Russia from the final years of the Cold War. In 2002, he was incarcerated at Supermax in Colorado.

The FBI described him as the "most malicious" spy in U.S. history, as he paid $1.4 million in exchange for $1985.<> million. dollars and diamonds provided the Kremlin with sensitive information concerning the national security of the United States. His espionage began in <>, nine years after becoming part of the FBI.

When collaborating with the KGB, Hansen used the code name Ramon Garcia, providing the Soviet agent network with any U.S. material and documents he had unrestricted access to, including counterintelligence reports, government decisions and investigative data.

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