Russia has detained a French citizen for illegally entering the country from Estonia and opened a criminal investigation, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday.
EU and NATO member Estonia shares a 300-kilometer border with Russia and tensions between the countries have increased since the beginning of Moscow's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine last year.
"The foreigner admitted that he illegally crossed the state border of the Russian Federation, bypassing the established checkpoints from Estonia to Russia by boat across the Narva River," the FSB said in a statement.
"It was established that the individual is a French citizen," the FSB said, according to the RIA Novosti state-run news agency.
News agencies citing the FSB reported that the individual was detained for up to 30 days pending trial, and that a criminal case had been opened.
They reported that charges of illegally crossing the Russian border carry a maximum penalty of six years behind bars.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
