Russian Court Rejects U.S. Citizen's Appeal Against Detention

A Russian court denied an appeal by U.S. citizen Joseph Tater, who faces up to five years in prison for assaulting a police officer. Initially detained for petty hooliganism in August, Tater had allegedly abused hotel staff. He has since claimed persecution by U.S. authorities and sought asylum in Russia.

A Russian court on Thursday rejected an appeal from U.S. citizen Joseph Tater against his detention for assaulting a police officer.

Tater, initially detained in August for petty hooliganism after allegedly abusing hotel staff in Moscow, has denied any wrongdoing. He later assaulted a police officer, leading to a fresh criminal case that carries a potential five-year prison sentence.

Moscow's city court on Thursday rejected Tater's plea for release from pre-trial detention, citing a statement from the court. His detention is set to last until Oct. 14, and Tater continues to deny the charges.

According to the Interfax news agency, Tater's lawyer claimed that he entered Russia to seek political asylum from persecution by U.S. authorities. His hooliganism arrest had interrupted his asylum application process.

Reuters was unable to reach Tater's lawyer. Interfax quoted Tater as telling the court in English that his life was threatened in the U.S. and that he had been targeted by the CIA for 18 years. Tater stated, "I absolutely want to stay in Russia, or I will die."

During the proceedings, Tater asked U.S. Embassy officials to leave, declaring he did not see himself as a U.S. citizen. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.

Tater is one of at least ten Americans currently incarcerated in Russia. Another American, Daniel Joseph Schneider, was sentenced on Tuesday in Kaliningrad to six years in prison for allegedly kidnapping his son and attempting to leave Russia via Poland.