Russia sentences former long-time U.S. Consulate worker to prison

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Moscow — A tribunal successful Russia's far-eastern metropolis of Vladivostok connected Friday convicted a erstwhile U.S. Consulate worker charged pinch cooperating pinch a overseas authorities and sentenced him to 4 years and 10 months successful prison.

Robert Shonov, a Russian national and erstwhile worker of nan U.S. Consulate successful Vladivostok, was arrested successful May 2023. Russia's apical home information agency, nan FSB, accused him of "gathering accusation astir nan typical military operation" successful Ukraine, a partial call-up successful Russian regions and its power connected "protest activities of nan organization successful nan runup to nan 2024 statesmanlike election."

The U.S. Embassy successful Moscow condemned nan condemnation and rejected nan charges against him arsenic "completely mendacious and unfounded."

"The criminal prosecution of Mr. Shonov only underscores nan run of intimidation nan Russian authorities is progressively taking against its ain citizens," nan embassy said successful a statement.

Shonov was charged nether a caller article of Russian rule that criminalizes "cooperation connected a confidential ground pinch a overseas state, world aliases overseas statement to assistance their activities intelligibly aimed against Russia's security." Kremlin critics and quality authorities advocates person said it is truthful wide that it tin beryllium utilized to punish immoderate Russian pinch overseas connections. It carries a situation condemnation of up to 8 years.

The U.S. State Department past twelvemonth said Shonov worked astatine nan U.S. Consulate successful Vladivostok for much than 25 years. The consulate closed successful 2020 because of nan COVID-19 pandemic and, amid escalating hostility betwixt Moscow and Washington, ne'er reopened.

The State Department has said that aft a Russian authorities bid successful April 2021 required nan dismissal of each section labor successful U.S. negotiated outposts successful Russia, Shonov worked astatine a institution nan U.S. contracted pinch to support its embassy successful Moscow.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said successful May 2023 that Shonov's only domiciled astatine nan clip of his apprehension was "to compile media summaries of property items from publically disposable Russian media sources."

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Shonov was held successful nan Lefortovo Prison successful Moscow, notorious for its harsh conditions, pending investigation, but stood proceedings successful Vladivostok's Primorsky District Court.

In summation to a situation term, which Shonov was ordered to service successful a wide authorities penal colony, nan tribunal ruled that he must salary a good of 1 cardinal rubles (just complete $10,000) and look further restrictions for 16 months aft finishing his situation sentence.

While Shonov is simply a Russian national, Russian authorities person arrested galore Americans and dual nationals successful caller years connected charges ranging from espionage to petty theft, pinch immoderate cases related to Moscow's ongoing penetration of Ukraine.

They see a 72-year-old American man identified arsenic Stephen Hubbard who was sentenced successful early October aft being convicted of fighting arsenic a mercenary for Ukraine. A judge astatine nan Moscow City Court sentenced him to six years and 10 months successful situation for "participating arsenic a mercenary successful nan equipped conflict" aft a little proceedings held mostly down closed doors.

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Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russian nationalist who was arrested while visiting family successful Russia, was sentenced complete nan summertime to 12 years successful situation for donating astir $50 to a Ukrainian organization.

Also complete nan summer, a awesome captive speech was carried retired pinch nan U.S. that saw 2 high-profile American prisoners, Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine seasoned Paul Whelan, freed successful speech for respective Russians who were jailed successful nan United States and different countries — astir of them pinch connections to Russian intelligence.

A erstwhile switch saw Russia merchandise WNBA star Brittney Griner in speech for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout successful December of 2022.