Closing arguments Friday in Russian trial of American accused of spying.(Chicago Tribune)

MOSCOW _ Defense lawyers were to present their closing arguments Friday in the espionage trial of Edmond Pope, an American businessman and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer accused by Russia of buying classified arms documents.

In a trial that has drawn wide publicity in Russia, prosecutors are claiming Pope, 54, sought secret Russian blueprints for an advanced submarine torpedo. Prosecutors, who rested their case Wednesday, are asking that Pope be sentenced to 20 years in a Russian prison and fined $250 million.

Since his arrest in April, Pope has insisted that none of the information he bought about the Shkval high-speed torpedo was classified.

Though closed to the public and the media, the trial has deepened criticism in some quarters about the fairness of Russia's justice system, especially in …