A U.S. citizen of Russian descent, Robert Woodland, has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison in Moscow for drug-trafficking related charges. Woodland, who was born in Russia in 1991 and later adopted by American parents, returned to Russia at the age of 26 to reconnect with his birth mother.
According to court officials, Woodland also holds Russian citizenship. He had been detained since January on attempted illegal drug trafficking charges, which Russian government media alleges are linked to an organized group.
Upon Woodland's arrest, the U.S. State Department emphasized its commitment to the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad but has not provided further comments on the case.
Woodland's lawyer, Stanislav Kshevitsky, announced plans to appeal the ruling, citing lack of evidence to prove his client's guilt. Kshevitsky also mentioned Woodland's undisclosed mental health issues as grounds for the appeal.
Reports indicate that there are currently at least a dozen Americans detained in Russian prisons. If no appeal is filed, Woodland faces serving 12.5 years in a maximum security penal colony.
