Russia charges U.S. consulate worker with spying on Ukraine war
NBCSep 02, 2023
The Facts
The US Dept. of State on Monday accused Russia of trying to "intimidate and harass" US employees inside Russia after a former Consulate worker — a Russian citizen — pled guilty to charges of collecting information for Washington.
Robert Shonov, a longtime employee of the US Consulate in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, was initially arrested in the city in May. After an investigation and further questioning by the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, he was charged with "collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization" — he was held at the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The charges against Shonov are wholly without merit. This is simply another demonstration of the Kremlin's crackdown on its own citizens and is part of Russia's attempts to intimidate and harass US employees in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Pro-Russia narrative
In filmed testimony, Shonov admitted to collecting sensitive information about Russia for the Americans. This is clearly against the laws in Russia and the courts will deal with this case accordingly.
