OAN Deven Berryhill
UPDATED 2:46 PM PT – Monday, February 13, 2023
The United States Government has issued a top-level advisory warning all U.S. citizens to leave Russia immediately. Additionally, all travel to Russia has been suspended for U.S. Citizens.
U.S. Government officials are citing the risks of harassment and wrongful detention of American citizens by Russian Law Enforcement agencies. Monday’s warnings were issued due to heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.
It has been reported that Russian government security officials are arbitrarily detaining Americans. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow made a statement.
“Russian Government officials have arrested U.S. Citizens on spurious charges,” they said. “Russian officials have denied U.S. Citizens fair and transparent treatment in secret trials without presenting credible evidence.”
In 2022, Britney Griner had been convicted to 9 years in a Russian prison for being in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis. She was later released and allowed to return to the U.S. in a prisoner swap with convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, between the U.S. Government and Russia officials. Simultaneously, former U.S. Marine Paul Wheelan is currently serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted for what the U.S. Government has been called “fictitious espionage charges.”