Russian court jails US Navy veteran for 5 years for illegally transporting weapons

4 weeks ago 1

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court has convicted and sentenced an American on charges of illegally transporting weapons, court officials revealed Monday.

Chuck Zimmerman, 58, was handed a 5-year sentence by a court in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi after a firearm was found on his yacht in June, the Krasnodar regional courts’ press service said in a statement. Russian authorities found the weapon while inspecting it upon arrival in Sochi, the statement said.

A website set up in support of Zimmerman describes him as a U.S. Navy veteran, a father of two and an electrician. His family has rejected the charges against him as a “set-up” for a future prisoner exchange.

Court records seen by The Associated Press showed that Zimmerman was convicted in October, and the Sochi court verdict was upheld two months later by the Krasnodar regional court.

Zimmerman told the court that he traveled to Russia to meet a woman he had previously contacted online and that he had the gun for self defense, unaware of Russian laws, according to the court’ press service statement. He has fully admitted guilt, the statement said.

Zimmerman’s sister Robin Stultz said her brother was intercepted while sailing in international waters with “absolutely no intention to enter Russia.”