US rock band manager Travis Leake sentenced to 13 years in Russian penal colony, following drug charges
American citizen Travis Leake has been sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony in Russia, state media RIA Novosti reported Thursday, after he was detained on drug charges last year.
American citizen Travis Leake has been sentenced by a Moscow court to 13 years in a Russian penal colony on drug charges, according to state media outlet RIA Novosti. Leake, a musician and former paratrooper, pleaded not guilty to the charges of engaging in the narcotics business, stating that he did not understand why he was being accused and that he did not believe he could have committed the alleged crimes. His detention and sentencing occur during a tense period in diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia, exacerbated by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Leake is the frontman of the band "Lovi Noch" ("Catch the Night") and was also a music producer in Moscow. He had previously voiced his frustrations with censorship in an interview with CNN in 2014. Russian prosecutors allege that Leake purchased narcotic drugs, packaged them for sale, and attempted to sell over 40 grams of mephedrone ("meow-meow") with an accomplice. Additionally, investigators claimed that he possessed more than 1.6 grams of a narcotic substance and tablets containing MDMA at his home.
This case has attracted attention due to the harsh sentence and the timing of Leake's detention. He is one of at least a dozen US citizens and dual nationals currently detained in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges. Leake's sentencing underscores the challenges faced by Americans traveling or residing in Russia during this period of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Leake is the frontman of the band "Lovi Noch" ("Catch the Night") and was also a music producer in Moscow. He had previously voiced his frustrations with censorship in an interview with CNN in 2014. Russian prosecutors allege that Leake purchased narcotic drugs, packaged them for sale, and attempted to sell over 40 grams of mephedrone ("meow-meow") with an accomplice. Additionally, investigators claimed that he possessed more than 1.6 grams of a narcotic substance and tablets containing MDMA at his home.
This case has attracted attention due to the harsh sentence and the timing of Leake's detention. He is one of at least a dozen US citizens and dual nationals currently detained in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges. Leake's sentencing underscores the challenges faced by Americans traveling or residing in Russia during this period of heightened geopolitical tensions.