A court in Moscow has upheld the conviction of an American citizen, Robert Woodland, on drug-related charges. Woodland, a Russia-born U.S. citizen, was found guilty of attempted drug trafficking and sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison by the Ostankino District Court in July. His appeal against the verdict was rejected by the Moscow City Court on Tuesday.
Reports from Russian media suggest that Woodland is the same individual interviewed in 2020, who claimed to have been born in the Perm region in the Ural Mountains in 1991 and later adopted by an American couple. He traveled to Russia in search of his birth mother and reportedly reunited with her on a television program. It is also noted that Woodland holds Russian citizenship in addition to his American nationality.
The arrest of Americans in Russia has become more frequent amid deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly due to the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. government has accused Russia of using American citizens as political pawns, while Russian authorities maintain that these individuals have violated Russian laws.
In some cases, Americans detained in Russia have been exchanged for Russian nationals held in the United States. However, for others, the possibility of release through such diplomatic arrangements remains uncertain.
