MOSCOW, May 18 . The Lefortovo Court of Moscow has extended the term of arrest of Robert Shonov, a former employee of the American consulate in Vladivostok, accused of collaborating with the United States against Russia's security, by another three months, said press secretary of the court Anastasia Romanova
«In relation to Shonov Robert Robertovich <…>, the term of detention was extended for three months, and in total — up to five months, that is, until August 23, 2023,» she said.
The meeting and the announcement of the resolution were held behind closed doors. At the same time, journalists were not allowed to announce the decision to close it, as required by law; Moreover, the bailiffs closed the door to the corridor where the courtroom is located.
According to the court, Robert Shonov is charged with article 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state), the sanction of which is from three to eight years in prison. The article introduces liability for citizens of the Russian Federation who cooperate with foreign states or organizations «in order to assist them in activities knowingly directed against the security of the Russian Federation», when there is no element of treason.
Shonov was detained and arrested in Vladivostok back in March.
As stated in the materials on the website of the court, Shonov, «not agreeing with the special military operation being carried out by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, established, through correspondence, cooperation relations on a confidential basis with representatives of a foreign state (the United States of America) in order to assist them in their activities deliberately directed against the security of the Russian Federation.
In turn, on Tuesday, the US State Department issued a press release in which it indicated that it «strongly condemns» the arrest of a former diplomatic mission employee in Russia and considers the charges «completely devoid of reasons.»
The State Department said that Shonov worked for more than 25 years at the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, and after American diplomats were banned from hiring Russians, he moved to a local company that provided services to the embassy in Moscow «in strict accordance with Russian laws and regulations.» His job was to prepare digests of the Russian press, the State Department said.