My brother (American) was found guilty of kidnapping and illegal border crossing charges in Kaliningrad and is facing a 6-year prison sentence. The charges are political—he is the legal father of his child, whom he was attempting to take across the border. The mother is a Russian citizen and did not wish to press charges. He has been held for a year, and we’ve been working with Russian lawyers who were optimistic about his case. However, we learned today that he received a 6-year sentence. I’m looking for advice on what actions we can take, what kind of lawyers we can work with in the U.S. for an international case like this, and how to raise this with the State Department to apply pressure for some action.
If this is real, you need to contact your Congressional delegation for his home district. Is he a dual citizen? As you may know, U.S.-Russia relations are at an all-time low, so there’s little the American government may be able to do.
@Toni
Yes, sadly this is real. My brother (the father) is not a dual citizen, but his son is, and the mother is a Russian citizen. They had a relationship while she lived in the U.S. and moved back to Russia with the child amid ongoing paternity cases. We missed the Ankara exchange and now think it was a mistake not to ramp up the profile of this case earlier. Thanks for the advice on contacting his Congressional delegation.
@Tilden
Best of luck. The Congressional delegation is crucial because they can engage with the State Department to see what can be done. It’s a long shot, but it’s the only real chance.
Are the charges really ‘political’? The way you’ve worded this seems sketchy. The mother was residing in Russia with their child, and your brother went to Russia to take the child across borders. This sounds like he may have actually kidnapped the child, and the American government may not sympathize.
This is beyond a Reddit sub, rooted in diplomatic issues more than clear legal matters. Russia has been using fabricated charges against Americans for leverage. Contact your congressman, write emails, and call until you get a response. Reach out to the U.S. embassy in Russia.
He tried to kidnap the child by taking him across the border without a court’s or mother’s permission. This is not political.
He’s lucky it’s only 6 years. Sorry about all this.
There isn’t really a concept of ‘press charges’ in Russia. If you cross borders illegally with a child, you will be prosecuted. Your brother may have committed kidnapping, and this situation is likely being used to make an example out of him.
Ky said:
Have you contacted the U.S. Embassy in Russia? They might provide some assistance.
Yes, a family member has been in touch with the embassy, but they haven’t been very responsive. They only have a presence in Moscow and none in Kaliningrad, so actual assistance has been limited.