American citizen Travis Leake has been sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony in Russia, according to a report by state media RIA Novosti on Thursday. This follows his detention on drug charges last year.
The Moscow court accused the “former paratrooper and musician” of being involved in drug trafficking, as reported by RIA. Leake, however, maintained his innocence, as noted by Russian state media TASS.
During his arrest in June 2023, Leake reportedly stated to police, as per tabloid outlet Ren TV, “I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t admit guilt, I don’t believe I could have done what I’m accused of because I don’t know what I’m accused of.”
Leake’s sentencing occurs amidst deteriorated diplomatic relations between Washington and Moscow, with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine exacerbating tensions.
He is among at least a dozen US citizens and dual nationals currently detained in Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, who is the first American journalist to be charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War.
Leake, the frontman of the band Lovi Noch, which translates to “Catch the Night,” and a producer for other Moscow-based music groups, had previously expressed his frustrations with censorship in an interview.
Anthony Bourdain personally selected Leake for an episode of Parts Unknown filmed in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
From January to June 2023, Leake is reported to have bought narcotics from an accomplice involved in another criminal case, according to the Moscow prosecutor’s office, as reported by Russian state media.
Leake allegedly packaged the drugs for sale and then transferred them to an accomplice for hiding. The pair attempted to sell over 40 grams of mephedrone, also known as “meow-meow,” in four separate instances, according to the court.
Investigators also found that Leake had more than 1.6 grams of the narcotic at his home, along with tablets containing MDMA, all of which were confiscated during the operation.
Additionally, a second individual involved in the case was found guilty and sentenced to time in a penal colony, as reported by Russian state media on Thursday.
