A Russian former worker of the USA consulate in Russia’s a ways jap town of Vladivostok has been sentenced to 4 years and ten months in jail for “secret collaboration with a overseas state”.Robert Shonov labored for greater than 25 years for the USA consulate till 2021, when Moscow imposed restrictions on native personnel operating for overseas missions.Later on, he labored as a non-public contractor compiling press accounts from publicly obtainable Russian media, in step with the USA state division.He was once arrested in 2023 on suspicion of passing secret details about Russia’s conflict in Ukraine to the USA in alternate for cash.In line with the judgement printed at the web site of Primorye’s regional court docket on Friday, 400,000 roubles ($4,100) and an digital tool had been seized.In September 2023, Russia additionally expelled two US diplomats it accused of performing as liaison brokers for Shonov.America state division mentioned that Shonov labored as a non-public contractor compiling press accounts from publicly obtainable Russian media, “in strict compliance with Russia’s regulations and rules”.“The allegations in opposition to Mr Shonov are wholly with out benefit,” mentioned state division spokesperson Matthew Miller in keeping with the costs.In recent times, a number of US electorate were arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison phrases in Russia. Others are being held pending trial.Washington, which helps Ukraine militarily and financially in opposition to Russia’s invasion, accuses Moscow of short of to replace them for Russians held in the USA.The US and Russia exchanged prisoners together with The Wall Boulevard Magazine reporter Evan Gershkovich in a landmark change in August, however a number of US nationals and twin nationals stay in detention in Russia.
