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On Tuesday, the US State Department issued a travel recommendation, saying that Moscow “may single out and detain US persons in Russia,” and reiterating previous cautions that Americans should avoid the country.
The travel advisory stated that the warning was issued “due to Russian military forces’ unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” as well as the risk of harassment of US citizens by Russian authorities. It also reiterated calls for Americans travelling or living in Russia to leave “immediately.”
It comes just days after a US diplomat was granted access to jailed basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been kept in Russian custody for over a month.
Mr Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, was arrested on February 17 at a Moscow airport on suspicion of smuggling cannabis oil-laced vape cartridges into her luggage.
He was promptly taken into custody after being apprehended, and her detention was extended by a Russian court until May 19 last week. She faces a ten-year prison sentence.
The arrest occurred as ties between Moscow and the West were at an all-time low as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden’s administration has led the Western response to the invasion, imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia and funnelling arms and aid to Kyiv.
