A Moscow court on July 18 sentenced U.S. citizen Michale Travis Leake to 13 years in prison on drug charges, the press service of Moscow courts of common jurisdiction said. Leake's co-defendant, a Russian woman, Veronika Garabanchuk, was sentenced to eight years in prison. More than 10 U.S. citizens are being held in Russian jails and prisons, accused or convicted on charges ranging from drug possession and theft to treason and espionage, amid accusations Moscow is using trumped-up charges to detain foreigners to use as currency in prisoner exchanges. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
Russian Court Jails U.S. Citizen For 13 Years On Drug Charges
Michael Leake appears in court in Moscow in a photo issued on July 18.