Photograph Credit score: Nikita KarimovAmerican musician and supervisor Travis Leake, who had been dwelling in Russia for over a decade, has been arrested by Russian officers on drug expenses.
Michael Travis Leake, an American musician who has lived in Russia for greater than a decade, has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, Russian information media reported on Saturday. The US State Division confirmed the arrest on Sunday and stated US embassy officers attended his arraignment.
Leake was detained on Saturday, the place “the Khamvoniki District Courtroom of Moscow took a preventative measure towards an American citizen,” in accordance with an announcement launched by Moscow’s courts of basic jurisdiction.
“The previous paratrooper and musician is accused of partaking within the narcotics enterprise by means of attracting younger folks,” its assertion stated, including that he had appeared on the Khamovniki District Courtroom of Moscow on June 10 and can stay in custody till August 6.
Travis Leake is suspected of promoting mephedrone, the results of that are much like cocaine and MDMA. He faces expenses of manufacturing or distribution of medication, which carries a sentence of as much as 20 years in jail. A Moscow courtroom ordered him to be held for 2 months in pre-trial detention.
“We are able to affirm that Michael Travis Leake was arrested and is detained in Moscow. Embassy officers attended his arraignment on June 10,” stated a spokesperson for the US State Division. “We are going to proceed to watch the case intently.”
“The US Division of State and our embassies and consulates overseas haven’t any larger precedence than the protection and safety of US residents abroad,” they continued, explaining that when a US citizen is detained abroad, the division “pursues consular entry as quickly as attainable and works to supply all acceptable consular help.
Travis Leake is the singer and supervisor for the band Lovi Noch. Stories point out he’s a former paratrooper with the US army and has lived in Moscow since 2010. On account of privateness concerns, the division stated it will haven’t any additional remark.