Russia sentences American citizen Gene Spektor to maximum security prison for ‘espionage’

An American citizen has been sentenced to prison in Russia for “espionage”.

Gene Spektor, a businessman who was born and raised in Russia before moving to the US and becoming a citizen, was already serving a prison sentence on a bribery conviction when he was arrested on an espionage charge last year.

RIA Novosti reports Moscow City Court has now sentenced him to 15 years behind bars. Giving the verdict, the judge said: “To sentence Spektor to 13 years’ imprisonment… together (with the previous sentence) to finally sentence him to 15 years’ imprisonment in a maximum security penal colony.”

The court also upheld a fine of 14million rubles (£111,000) from the previous verdict. All of the hearings, apart from the verdict, were held behind closed doors.

Moscow City Court
Moscow City Court (file) 
Image:
Getty Images)

In 2021, Spektor pleaded guilty to mediating a bribe for an aide to a Russian deputy prime minister while he was chairman of the board of the Medpolimerprom group of companies in Russia. Spektor was accused of mediating a bribe in the form of two holiday packages to Thailand and the Dominican Republic worth 4million rubles (£32,000) in 2015 and 2016

He was initially sentenced to four years in prison, but was retried on a technicality and received a new sentence of three-and-a-half years behind bars in September 2022.

Spektor was bon in Leningrad. He is reportedly married to a Russian woman and had lived in St Petersburg for five years prior to his initial arrest.

RIA Novosti previously reported he had complained to a human rights activist about being held in cold conditions at a pre-trial detention centre following his arrest. But Alexey Melnikov, executive secretary of the public monitoring commission of Moscow, refuted this at the time.

He said: “He has board games, a TV, a refrigerator, a kettle. He prefers financial literature and books about new technologies.”

Spektor told his lawyer that he considered his arrest politically motivated and illegal.

Related Posts

Donald Trump in astonishing King Charles boast as he confirms date for UK trip

US President Donald Trump is set to make a trip to the UK later this year to meet with King Charles at Windsor Castle and boost relations…

Drones spotted above Sandringham ahead of Zelensky’s visit with no-fly zone imposed

Volodymyr ­Zelensky is set to visit King Charles, a trip believed to be of “huge interest to Russian spies” – and there are three air forces near…

David Beckham’s gushing tribute to ‘most amazing wife’ Victoria as she turns 51

Football legend David Beckham took to his Instagram page to share a number of throwback photos as he celebrated his Spice Girl singer wife Victoria’s 51st birthday…

Victoria Beckham’s tumultuous family life as she turns 51 – Brooklyn feud to huge snub

Victoria Beckham is marking her 51st birthday after welcoming four children with David Beckham over the years – but their family life is reportedly more complicated than…

Strictly’s Kai Widdrington shares first loved-up snap with new girlfriend

Strictly Come Dancing pro Kai Widdrington has gone public with his new partner Chloe Wells in a post on social media, nine months on from his split…

Zara McDermott and Louis Tomlinson at odds already despite finally confirming romance

Love Island star Zara McDermott and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson have finally confirmed their romance after their secret dates, however one may be more into it than…