Russia bans American nationals under suspicion of attacking police official

An American national has been detained in Moscow, under suspicions that he has exercised violence against a police official, Russia's Detective Committee said on August 14th.

This man was detained on August 12th, on charges of “foliganism”, this Committee said.

The defendant has refused to provide information on his identity, and has subsequently exercised violence against a law enforcement official”, investigators have said.

The Detective Committee has not identified the man, but a channel in Telegram that monitors courts in Moscow has identified him as Joseph Tutter, and has said he has been sentenced to 15 days in prison for hooliganism.

Interfax has identified the man as Joseph Tager, 46-year-old, and has said he has been detained for hooliganism and assault on a police official, and that a criminal case could be opened against him.

U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel has told reporters in Washington that the State Department is aware of reports that another American citizen has been arrested in Russia, and has said that “we are working to provide as much information as possible, and to see if there is a consular approach”.

Many other Americans are behind prisons in Russia, even after the exchange of prisoners on August 1st, which has resulted in the release of 16 people from Moscow's prisons in exchange for eight Russians held in prisons in the United States and Europe.

One of them is Kseniya Carelina, who is being held in Russia since January and may face 15 years in prison after being convicted of treason.

Carelina, an American-Russian citizen, was detained by the Russian Federal Security Service in Jekaterinburg in January, where she traveled to meet family members.

The decision on it is expected to be made on 15 August.

Carelina is initially accused of hooliganism, more precisely of insulting police officials.

Security agents have then searched her phone and found that before traveling to Russia, she has made a $51 donation to a United States-based organization that offers aid to Ukraine.

In exchange for prisoners on August 1st, the United States, Russia, and several European countries are involved.

Among those released are Radio Free Europe reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, American daily columnist Wall Street Journal, and former American businessman Paul Whelan. /rel