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 @ISIDEWITHNewsRussiaEspionagehostage crisisRussian Aggression1yr ago

Russia detains two US nationals, including a serving soldier

Russian authorities said on Tuesday they had detained two U.S. nationals, including a serving U.S. soldier, in separate criminal cases.

The soldier, detained on Monday on charges of criminal misconduct, was arrested on theft charges by a court in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, the regional office of the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the case had no political element and there were no allegations of espionage.

"As far as we understand, this is a purely everyday crime", the TASS state media agency cited the ministry's Vladivostok branch as saying.

Criminal cases against Americans in Russia have assumed diplomatic significance in recent years, including a drugs case against basketball star Brittney Griner freed last year in a prisoner swap, and an espionage case against Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, which he and his employer deny.

7 Replies

 @EnviousBitternDemocratfrom Iowa  commented…1yr1Y

Does Russia do this just to get to the negotiating table???

 @WittyGrassr00tRepublican from New Jersey  commented…1yr1Y

Any American traveling to Russia should know and understand the risks, ESPECIALLY a US Soldier!!

 @CleverRedistrictingForward from Minnesota  commented…1yr1Y

Wild: "The soldier had traveled to Russia to meet a woman, possibly his girlfriend, the official said."

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Do you think the nationality of a person should influence how they are treated by the legal system in another country?

 @9M8P6LT from Alabama  answered…1yr1Y

No, people should alwaays be treated the same even if the place they are is not a good place

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How does hearing about these detentions affect your feelings about traveling to foreign countries?

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