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A court in the Russian capital Moscow has sentenced 65-year-old American David Barnes to 21 years in prison for sexual violence against his two children. The facts took place in the United States.
A court statement shows that Barnes must serve his sentence in “a penal colony with a strict regime”. According to the American press, the 65-year-old American had a dispute with his Russian ex-wife over the custody of their two children.
Russian investigators accused Barnes of sexually abusing his two sons. They were not yet six years old and lived in the American state of Texas. The American denies those accusations and has pleaded not guilty. While visiting his children in January 2022, Russian authorities arrested Barnes.
According to the American news channel ABC News, Texan authorities investigated the allegations, but dismissed the case due to a lack of evidence. His ex-wife, Svetlana Koptjajova, is wanted by the American justice system. She is accused of taking her children out of the country illegally.
Prisoner exchange
Russia has arrested more and more American citizens in recent years and sentenced them to long prison terms. The war in Ukraine, in which the US sided with Kiev, plays a role in this. For example, Russia would hold Americans captive and later exchange them for Russian prisoners. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about a possible agreement regarding the release of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for almost a year.
