- US citizen riots in hotel and arrested in Russia
Russian police detain U.S. citizen for alleged assault on officer. The suspect was brought to a Moscow police station early Monday morning due to his "disorderly conduct," Russia's Investigative Committee said Wednesday. He will soon be charged and investigators will request that he be kept in custody. Earlier, police were called to a hotel where the American was reportedly acting aggressively and using "non-standard lexicon" - profanity. He ignored officers' requests to change his behavior and was eventually arrested, Interfax reported. At the police station, he allegedly struck a policewoman.
In addition to disorderly conduct, the American will have to answer for using violence against a representative of the state. Authorities identified the suspect as a 1978-born man who did not present the registration card issued upon his entry into the country.
Historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the West
Russia two weeks ago, in the largest prisoner exchange with Western states since the end of the Cold War, also released U.S. citizens in exchange for Russian agents held in the West. Among them were former soldier Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich. Other U.S. and Western citizens remain in Russian custody.
Russia is accused of repeatedly sentencing U.S. citizens to long prison terms as bargaining chips to exchange for its nationals held abroad.
The American's violent actions towards a policewoman may lead to further discussions about prisoner exchanges, considering Russia's history of using detainees as bargaining chips. In light of recent events, such as the large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Western states, the exchange of the American for a Russian agent could be a potential consideration.
