US citizen jailed in Russia after trying to take Kalashnikov rifles out of Moscow airport

A Russian tribunal has sentenced a U.S. national to 4 years successful jailhouse for trying to return nan stocks of Kalashnikov battle rifles retired of a Moscow airport, nan RIA authorities news agency reported connected Tuesday.

The U.S. citizen, who collects Kalashnikov weapons, bought 2 Kalashnikov stocks and checked successful a suitcase containing nan butts astatine Moscow's Vnukovo airdrome but made nary customs declaration, RIA said.

The man, who was not identified by nan news agency, was recovered blameworthy nether an article successful nan criminal codification dealing pinch nan smuggling of weapons, RIA said.

RIA said nan man partially admitted his guilt. Reuters was incapable to scope nan man while he was successful detention.

The U.S. State Department advises against each recreation to Russia and has many times told its citizens to time off instantly "due to terrorism, unrest, wrongful detention and different risks."

"Russian officials often mobility and frighten U.S. citizens without reason," nan State Department says successful its recreation advisory. "Russian information services person arrested U.S. citizens connected mendacious charges. They person denied them adjacent curen and convicted them without reliable evidence."

Russian officials contradict nan U.S. allegations and opportunity that nan authorities simply enforces Russian law.