(30 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++PLEASE NOTE: AP IS OPERATING IN RUSSIA ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN RESTRICTIONS ON ALL REPORTING RELATED TO THE ONGOING MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Moscow, Russia – 30 May 2024
1. U.S. citizen Robert Woodland being led by police into courtroom and placed in a glass enclosure
2. Close of handcuffs being removed
3. Wide of Woodland sitting down in glass enclosure
4. Various of Woodland behind glass
5. Close of policeman
6. Policeman with a dog barking
7. Wide of Woodland looking at the barking dog, zoom in
8. Close of dog
9. Mid of Woodland in glass enclosure
10. Wide of court exterior
11. Close of nameplate reading (Russian) “Russian Federation. Ostankinsky district court of Moscow”
12. Wide of court entrance, people walking upstairs
STORYLINE:
A U.S. citizen arrested on drug charges in Moscow amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions appeared in court on Thursday for an interim hearing.
Robert Woodland is facing charges of trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs as part of an organized group — a criminal offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
He was remanded into custody in January, and the trial began in the Ostankino District Court in late March.
In January, the U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports of the recent detention of a U.S. citizen and noted that it “has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas,” but refrained from further comment, citing privacy considerations.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a similar statement at the time.
Arrests of Americans in Russia have become increasingly common as relations between Moscow and Washington sink to Cold War lows.
Washington accuses Moscow of targeting its citizens and using them as political bargaining chips, but Russian officials insist they all broke the law.
Some have been exchanged for Russians held in the U.S., while for others, the prospects of being released in a swap are less clear.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/72457b1dfb554f14ab49ea52be340e39
