Romanian Citizen Sentenced to 15 Years in Russia for Espionage

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that it is taking steps to safeguard the rights of a Romanian citizen who was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in prison in Russia. This individual has been accused of espionage on behalf of Ukraine.

In an official response to the press, the Ministry confirmed that it has been monitoring the case of the Romanian citizen convicted of espionage since December 2024.

“During this period, efforts have been made both through the Romanian Embassy in Moscow and at the central level of the Ministry, including at the mission head level, to protect the rights of the Romanian citizen in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). According to information provided by Romania’s diplomatic mission in Moscow, the sentencing of the Romanian citizen to 15 years in a penal colony was finalized on June 19, 2026, following the rejection of an appeal. This information has not yet been officially communicated by the Russian authorities,” stated the Ministry.

Despite repeated efforts by the Ministry, Russian authorities have not granted permission for representatives of the Romanian diplomatic mission in Moscow to visit the Romanian citizen in prison as part of consular assistance efforts, nor have they allowed the individual to correspond with family members.

“The Ministry emphasizes that it will continue necessary efforts which fall under the obligation of the Romanian state to provide consular assistance, as well as the obligation of the Russian Federation established by the aforementioned treaty,” added the institution.

On Thursday, a Russian court definitively sentenced a Romanian citizen to 15 years in a maximum-security penal colony for providing information to Ukraine about the positioning of air defense systems in Sochi, as reported on Friday by the FSB Public Relations Center, cited by Interfax and Agerpres.

According to the Russian news agency, “a foreign citizen, while located in the Krasnodar Territory, collected and transmitted information about the positioning of air defense systems situated in the city of Sochi, under the instructions of Ukrainian special services.” The alleged acts reportedly took place in August 2024, as stated by the cited source.