US citizen detained in Moscow for alleged assault on police

Russian police have detained a U.S. citizen in Moscow for allegedly attacking a police officer, investigators said Wednesday.

The incident took place on Monday, according to Interfax.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said the person was brought to a police station late on Monday.

The suspect, who has not been named, reportedly refused to show identification and then assaulted a police officer.

“At night on August 12, 2024, a US citizen was brought to a Moscow police station in connection with his hooliganism,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement. “The suspect refused to provide his identity documents and then used violence against a law enforcement officer.”

This arrest follows the recent release of American reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and 14 others in a major prisoner exchange between a number of Western countries and Russia.

Several U.S. and other Western nationals remain in Russian prisons on various charges. The unnamed U.S. citizen faces up to five years in prison under Russian law.

Investigators plan to ask a court to keep him in custody while charges are filed.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.