Russia sentences American accused of espionage to 15 years in prison
Gene Spector is the latest citizen with a U.S. passport to be prosecuted by Moscow due to this crime, as it did with Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.
Russian Supreme Court
The Russian judiciary has sentenced a citizen with a U.S. passport to 15 years in prison - in addition to having to pay a fine of some US$140,000 - after he was charged with espionage.
As reported by AFP, citing the state news agency RIA Novosti, Gene Spector - an American of Russian origin - underwent a speedy trial behind closed doors, so not many more details about the proceedings transpired.
Previously, Spector was accused of espionage in 2023, a charge to which he pleaded guilty. He was also convicted in 2022 for his involvement in a corruption case that implicated a former aide to former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
In recent years, the Russian judiciary has prosecuted several citizens holding U.S. passports on charges of espionage. The cases that gained greater prominence were those of journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Both recovered their freedom in a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia.
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