CNN – A US citizen named Robert Woodland has been arrested in Moscow on drug-related charges, as confirmed by an official statement released Tuesday. The charges against Woodland include preparing and attempting a crime, as well as illegally dealing with drugs.
According to the Russian court’s statement, Woodland has been given a preventive measure in the form of detention for a period of 2 months, until March 5, 2024. Pro-Kremlin tabloid Komosomolskaya Pravda reported that Woodland is a US citizen of Russian origin, who was adopted by scientists from the US and returned to Russia 27 years later.
The tabloid reported that Woodland was born on December 7, 1991, with the name Roman Romanov, and he comes from the Perm Krai region, far from Moscow and just West of the Ural mountains. At the time of a 2020 interview, he was working as an English teacher. Woodland shared with the tabloid that he was happy in his American family and described his parents as wonderful and loving.
This arrest follows a series of high-profile detentions of US citizens and dual nationals in Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter. The US has classified Gershkovich’s detention as wrongful.
The arrest of Woodland and other US citizens in Russia has raised concerns about the treatment of Americans and dual nationals in the country. The US government continues to advocate for the fair treatment and release of detained citizens.