American teaching English in Russia detained and could face 20 years behind bars
An American man teaching English in Russia has been arrested on drug charges - and could face up to 20 years behind bars.
Robert Romanov Woodland, 32, from New York, was detained on drug charges, according to a Moscow court. The court said on social media: "On January 6, the Ostankinsky District Court of Moscow ordered Robert Romanov Woodland to be placed in detention for a period of two months, until March 5, 2024," adding he is accused of numerous drug offences.
Woodland's Facebook account reveals that he had been working as an English teacher in Russia, living outside Moscow. He also worked for Pro.english, a nonprofit lobbying organisation that supports making English the only official language of the US, and was an Assistant Professor of English at Angletica, an English language school in Moscow.
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Robert had been living outside Moscow (Facebook/ Robert Woodland)In September 2022, seven months after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Woodland admitted his family were "worried about my safety out here in Russia" but confirmed he was "currently okay."
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"For those who are worried about my safety out here in Russia with the current situation and the draft to military service. I'm currently okay. I have not received my letter yet,' he posted.
"I am not in support of this war, but if my letter to arms comes, I will not turn away. I know this sounds like a stupid choice, but remember.... America had done the same back during the Vietnam War...."
His current immigration and citizenship status in Russia were still unknown.
The American faces up to 20 years in jail in Putin's Russia if found guilty (Getty Images)Other Americans are also said to be held in Moscow, including Marine Corps veteran Paul Wheelan and Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
In a separate incident this week, 48 year old Zoya Konovalova, an editor for a pro-Russian state TV company, and her ex-husband, Andrey Gubatiyka were found dead in their bedroom.
They leave behind a 15 year old daughter and an adult son. "The preliminary cause of death is poisoning by an unknown substance," revealed a report by her work station.
An unidentified 'powdery substance' was discovered in a plastic bag at the TV head's home in Krasnodar city. Colleagues and friends maintain she would never have used drugs. Her channel is part of the massive All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company [VGTRK], a major component of Putin's propaganda network.
The man and woman are thought to have been dead for at least a day before their bodies were found. The discovery was made by "law enforcement agencies". The committee stated: "When examining the bodies, no visible injuries were found. The investigators are carrying out a set of verification measures aimed at establishing the circumstances and causes of the incident. "
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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