(Moscow) A Russian court has remanded an American accused of “drug trafficking”, Travis Leake, in the context of high tensions between Moscow and Washington linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Moscow Khamovnichesky Court, Travis Leake is an American “former paratrooper and musician”. He is accused of having “organized the sale of drugs to young people”, a crime punishable by several years in prison.
He “will remain in detention until August 6, 2023” pending his possible trial, a detention which can be extended, added the Moscow court on the social network Telegram.
According to the American channel CNN, the arrested American is a musician and music producer who has lived in Russia for many years.
A spokesman for the US State Department, contacted by AFP, said he was “aware of information relating to the recent arrest of an American citizen in Moscow”.
Arrests of American citizens in Russia have multiplied in recent years against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington, which have become abysmal since the outbreak of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Washington has accused Moscow of arbitrarily arresting Americans to use as bargaining chip and recover Russians detained in the United States.
In March, the Russian security services arrested an American journalist, Evan Gershkovich, on “espionage” charges which he denies.
Another American detained in Russia is Paul Whelan, a former Marine Corps non-commissioned officer who is serving a 16-year prison sentence for “espionage”.
In December, a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington involved an American basketball star, Brittney Griner, who was in detention in Russia, and a Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, prisoner in the United States.