A Russian former worker of the US consulate in Russia’s far jap metropolis of Vladivostok has been sentenced to 4 years and ten months in jail for “secret collaboration with a international state”.
Robert Shonov labored for greater than 25 years for the US consulate till 2021, when Moscow imposed restrictions on native employees working for international missions.
Afterward, he labored as a personal contractor compiling press accounts from publicly accessible Russian media, in keeping with the US state division.
He was arrested in 2023 on suspicion of passing secret details about Russia’s warfare in Ukraine to america in change for cash.
In accordance with the judgement revealed on the web site of Primorye’s regional courtroom on Friday, 400,000 roubles ($4,100) and an digital machine had been seized.
In September 2023, Russia additionally expelled two US diplomats it accused of appearing as liaison brokers for Shonov.
The US state division stated that Shonov labored as a personal contractor compiling press accounts from publicly accessible Russian media, “in strict compliance with Russia’s legal guidelines and laws”.
“The allegations towards Mr Shonov are wholly with out benefit,” stated state division spokesperson Matthew Miller in response to the costs.
Lately, a number of US residents have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy jail phrases in Russia. Others are being held pending trial.
Washington, which helps Ukraine militarily and financially towards Russia’s invasion, accuses Moscow of eager to change them for Russians held in america.
America and Russia exchanged prisoners together with The Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in a landmark swap in August, however a number of US nationals and twin nationals stay in detention in Russia.
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