US Citizen Arrested in Russia on Espionage Charges

A Moscow court has charged Gene Spector, a Russian-born US citizen currently serving a prison sentence for bribery, with espionage. Spector, who was the chairman of a cancer drug company, was previously charged with mediating bribes for a former Russian deputy prime minister's aide. The US State Department is aware of the charges but has not deemed Spector to be wrongfully detained. Tensions between the US and Russia have complicated efforts to secure the release of other detained US citizens, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan. The Biden administration has been working to secure their release and has been seeking assistance from allies.