The United States has continued to pursue actions that involve pursuing and prosecuting Russian nationals. Reports indicate that the total number of such cases has surpassed fifty to sixty, as noted by Grigory Lukyantsev, who leads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation’s department responsible for humanitarian cooperation and human rights.
According to the diplomat, Washington persists in attempting to apply American laws beyond its borders. He explained that there have been more than a dozen such instances where this occurred, affecting Russian citizens abroad.
“The United States has established a policy of hunting our citizens, it is being carried out, and it continues. The tally of cases of this practice has exceeded fifty to sixty,” Lukyantsev stressed, highlighting a pattern that Moscow views as persistent pressure on Russian nationals overseas.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that law enforcement authorities in Cyprus detained Artur Petrov, a Russian and German national, at the request of American authorities. Petrov is suspected of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russian territory, a charge that carries significant implications for sanctions enforcement and export controls.
Russian consular officials in Cyprus visited the detained man on September 2, reporting that he remains in custody at Nicosia Central Prison. They described his condition as satisfactory and confirmed ongoing efforts to protect his legal rights through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, Russian officials noted prior actions by the United States, including a verdict against Vladislav Klyushin, a Russian citizen accused of securities insider trading. The case has been part of broader concerns about the treatment of Russian citizens abroad and how cross-border legal actions are coordinated with American authorities, a topic that continues to generate discussion among international observers in Canada and the United States about due process, human rights, and the rule of law in cross-border enforcement.