A U.S. citizen has been arrested on drug charges in Russia, officials said Tuesday, a move that comes amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions over Ukraine.

The arrest of Robert Woodland Romanov was reported by the press service of the Moscow courts. It said the Ostankino District Court ruled on Saturday to keep him in custody for two months on charges of preparing to get involved in illegal drug trafficking pending an official investigation. It didn’t offer any details of the accusations.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow could be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips amid U.S.-Russian tensions that soared when Russia sent troops into Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years — including WNBA star Brittney Griner — have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

  • partial_accumen
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    545 months ago

    on charges of preparing to get involved in illegal drug trafficking

    See how efficient Russia is? You don’t even have to commit the crime anymore to be charged with it. They’re cutting out the middle man and passing the savings on to you! /s

    • gregorum
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      185 months ago

      they could tell he was thinking about it. he just had one of those faces, ya know?

    • @Squizzy
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      25 months ago

      Conspiracy…