Second 15-Year Jail Term for American in Russia
Second 15-Year Jail Term for American in Russia
A Russian-born U.S. citizen named Gene Spector has been handed a second 15-year jail term for espionage in Russia.** Spector, who was previously sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in September 2022 for enabling bribes, faced espionage charges in August 2023. The details of the case remain unclear. Spector was born in Leningrad and later moved to the US, becoming naturalized. He is married with children and was the general director of Russia's Medpolimerprom medical equipment company before his conviction. The US has accused Russia of resorting to 'hostage diplomacy' with Moscow having detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and another US citizen, Paul Whelan, on espionage charges.