Kremlin confirms that four American Mormons have been detained in Novorossiysk
Four US citizens were detained in Novorossiysk, two of whom have already been deported from Russia by a court order, said the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova on Thursday, Interfax reports.
According to her, the Americans were detained for violating Russian migration rules. Zakharova referred journalists to law enforcement agencies for further details.
Russian media earlier reported that several Mormons were detained in Novorossiysk. It was reported that David Gaaga and Cole Brodovsky were found guilty by the court for violation of the entry procedures. They are now in one of the Russian detention facilities and are expecting deportation .
According to the Russian law enforcement officials, while in Novorossiysk they were engaged in activities which were not in accordance with their stated purpose of entry into Russia. They stated in court that they arrived in Russia as volunteers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.