A court in far-east Russia handed down its decision for a previous US consulate employee today. Robert Shonov received almost 5-years prison term in Vladivostokʼs legal proceedings
The FSB (Russiaʼs main security agency) took Shonov into custody around 18 months ago; accusing him of working with another country. The charges included collecting info about several sensitive topics:
- Military actions in Ukraine
- Regional draft activities
- Public reactions before the upcoming presidential vote
The security service stated that Shonov – who worked at US consulate in Vladivostok – gathered this data while the country prepares for its presidential election (which happens in just a few months)
The courts final ruling came as relations between Moscow and Washington remain at low point; with Shonovʼs case adding another layer to existing diplomatic issues between both nations