Russian-born US citizen jailed in Moscow on espionage charges

A Moscow court has sentenced Gene Spector, a Russian-born American citizen, to 15 years in prison on charges of espionage. This news comes just months after a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States. Spector, who was already serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for bribery, was accused of spying last year. However, the specifics of the allegations have not been made public due to the secretive nature of the case, and the trial was conducted behind closed doors. In recent times, Russia has detained several high-profile American citizens, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was released earlier this year as part of a major swap deal between the two nations. The US Department of State has not yet commented on Spector's situation, and the BBC has reached out for a statement. Spector's 15-year sentence will be served in a strict-regime penal colony, which includes 13 years for the new espionage conviction and the remaining time from his previous sentence. Additionally, a fine of 14 million roubles, equivalent to approximately 140,000 dollars, was upheld. In 2020, Spector was accused of acting as an intermediary in a bribery case involving an assistant to a former deputy prime minister of Russia. He pleaded guilty to those charges. Born in 1972 in St Petersburg, which is now a part of Russia, Spector, whose Russian name is Yevgeny Mironovich, later moved to the United States and obtained citizenship. Upon returning to Russia, he became the head of Medpolimerprom, a group of companies that produce medical supplies. This news follows a landmark prisoner swap that occurred in August, involving 24 individuals exchanged between Russia and several Western countries, including the US and Germany. Among those exchanged were US citizens Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine. This exchange was described as the largest since the end of the Cold War. The relationship between Russia and the United States has been particularly strained in recent years, especially following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Images released by Russian security services depicted Evan Gershkovich being transported during the swap, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two nations. As the situation continues to unfold, many are left wondering what the future holds for American citizens detained in Russia and the implications for US-Russia relations.