The Wall Street Journal
Russia Charges Former U.S. Embassy Employee With Helping a Foreign State
Moscow has charged a former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia with collaborating with a foreign state, Russia news services reported, amid a broadening Kremlin campaign against Western influence that has complicated work of the U.S. mission there. Russian state news agencies identified the employee as Robert Shonov, 62, a longtime supply manager for the U.S. Consulate in the far eastern provincial city of Vladivostok, which closed two years ago. The agencies gave no details of the case against Mr. Shonov, who appears to be a Russian citizen because he was charged under a statute penalizing Russians who help a foreign state undermine Russia’s interests, agencies reported.