April 25, 2014
Four Americans have
been fined and deported from Russia and accused of “propagandizing American
values,” according to a statement from the federal migration service of the
Russian Republic of Chuvashia.
The Americans were all
teaching English in the city of Cheboksary while on tourist visas, the
statement said. Their deportation comes at a time of heightened tensions with
Russia, as the U.S. has declared that Moscow broke the terms of an agreement
over Ukraine reached in Geneva last week and is said to be preparing new sanctions.
“On April 24 and 25,
employees of the Russian Federal Migration Service in the Chuvashia Republic
detained 4 citizens of the United States of America, who arrived in the Russian
Federation with the goal of tourism,” the statement reads. “During practically
their whole time being in the city of Cheboksary they taught English to
students of the foreign language faculty at the Chuvashsky government Yakovlev
pedagogical university, propagandizing American values.”
“The decision of the judge of the Lenin District Court of the city of Cheboksary found these citizens guilty of committing an administrative offense under part 2, article 18.8 of the Russian Administrative Code,” the statement continues. “An administrative fine of 2,000 rubles was imposed on them with administrative expulsion from the borders of the Russian Federation in the form of independent controlled movement across the border of the Russian Federation.”
“The decision of the judge of the Lenin District Court of the city of Cheboksary found these citizens guilty of committing an administrative offense under part 2, article 18.8 of the Russian Administrative Code,” the statement continues. “An administrative fine of 2,000 rubles was imposed on them with administrative expulsion from the borders of the Russian Federation in the form of independent controlled movement across the border of the Russian Federation.”
One of the Americans is
singled out in the statement as a former Peace Corps volunteer: “One of the
detained first came to Russia in 2001 as a Peace Corps volunteer. It is known
that in 2002 Peace Corps activity was banned in connection with the carrying
out of intelligence-subversive activities.”
“We are aware of
reports that four U.S. citizens have been detained on work visa violations,” a
State Department official said. “The Department of State takes its obligation
to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously, and stands ready to provide all
appropriate consular services to U.S. citizens in need. Due to privacy
considerations, we are unable to comment further.”
