77°F
weather icon Clear

Russia detains, plans to deport American Mormons over visas

Updated March 7, 2019 - 9:32 pm

MOSCOW — A Russian court has ordered the deportation of two American Mormons for violating the terms of their visas.

Officials said the men were working as English teachers without proper credentials and had given religious affairs as their reason for being in Russia. They were detained Friday (local time) in Novorossiisk, a Black Sea city.

State news agency Tass says a regional court on Thursday upheld a lower court’s deportation order.

Tass quoted a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman in Russia denying the two Americans were teaching.

Yuri Kozhokin said: “They just talked with Russian citizens who came to see them on their own accord.”

A church spokesman in the United States, Eric Hawkins, says he can’t release the men’s names, but that church officials “are troubled by the circumstances surrounding their detention.”

MOST READ
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Authorities seek to file terrorism and assault charges against suspect in Walmart knife attack

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille, 42, of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had “prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations,” said very little as he was arrested.

MORE STORIES