Robert Romanov Woodland said in a Facebook post that he does not support the invasion of Ukraine, but suggested he would enlist in the military if < p>Russia said Tuesday it had detained an American citizen on drug charges, for which he faces up to 20 years in prison.
A Moscow court remanded Robert Romanov Woodland in custody until March 5 on drug charges. illegal acquisition and possession of drugs on a large scale.
Mr Woodland was adopted from Russia by an American couple in the 1990s. returns to be reunited with his biological mother.
“On January 6, the Ostankino District Court of Moscow decided to place Robert Romanov Lesnoy in custody for a period of two months, until March 5, 2024,” the court confirmed this in its statement.
The exact nature of the drug trafficking charges is unclear and comes after Russia detained several more US citizens on dubious charges, including a foreign correspondent.
According to news agency Reuters, Mr. Woodland's Facebook account identifies him as a 32-year-old English teacher who lived outside Moscow.
In a post on his Facebook account, Mr. Woodland said that does not support the invasion of Ukraine, but suggested that he would report for military service if called up.
“Not in support of this war”
“I’m fine now,” he wrote. “I haven't received [sic] my letter yet. I do not support this war, but if my letter comes calling for arms, I will not turn away.”
He added: “I know this sounds like a stupid choice, but remember… America did the same thing during the Vietnam War…”
Mr. Woodland, known to friends simply as “Rob”, appears to have both a Russian and an American passport, having been adopted in 1993 by US citizens from an orphanage in Ural mountain region. Then he returned to Russia.
Several US citizens have already been wrongfully imprisoned in Russia on dubious charges, including Evan Gershkowitz, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine.
The United States has called on all citizens to do so . leave Russia due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as well as the risk of arbitrary imprisonment and persecution by Russian intelligence services.
In 2020, Mr. Woodland gave an interview to the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, in which he discussed his adoption and possible reunion with his birth mother on Russian television.
“Mama cried”
“Mama cried and begged for forgiveness . But I forgave her before this meeting. I was never angry with her. I just always missed her very much,” he said.
“I was drawn to Russia with great force. And here I am. I have decided to stay in my homeland forever.”
The US State Department did not immediately respond to the news of Mr. Woodland's arrest.
Mr. Gershkovich, a respected reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been in Russian custody for nearly 300 days after being arrested by security forces while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg.
He is in Russian custody on charges of espionage, which are categorically denied by both the US government and The Wall Street Journal. The United States says he never worked for the government.
In a recent open letter, Mr. Gershkowitz's family spoke of his extraordinary resilience while in captivity.
“An Enduring Strength”
“Eight months ago, we couldn't believe we would be spending the holidays without Evan,” they said. “Today, he remains in prison on a false espionage charge, facing 250 days of isolation from his loved ones and the world.
“Countless milestones, including his 32nd birthday, weddings, holidays and other priceless moments, have passed while Evan was confined to a small cell. However, his resilience and unwavering strength never cease to amaze us. Seeing The way he holds his head high makes us very proud.”
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