- American arrested in Moscow after hotel riot
Russian security authorities have arrested a U.S. citizen in Moscow on suspicion of using violence against a police officer. Earlier, police were called to a hotel where the American was reportedly behaving aggressively and using "non-standard lexicon" - profanity. The man ignored police orders to change his behavior and was eventually arrested, the Interfax news agency reported. At the police station, the man allegedly struck a policewoman, a police spokesman said.
In addition to disorderly conduct, the American faces charges of using violence against a representative of the state. Authorities identified the man as a 1978-born individual who allegedly did not present the registration card issued upon his entry into the country.
Earlier this month, several Americans were released from Russian detention in a large-scale prisoner exchange in exchange for Russian agents held in the West. Russia has a reputation for repeatedly sentencing U.S. citizens to long prison terms as bargaining chips to exchange for their compatriots detained abroad.
The arrest of the American was handled by the Russian police, given the allegations of violence against an officer and disorderly conduct. Subsequently, the American was charged with using violence against a representative of the state.
