US citizen who was arrested in Moscow on drug charges appears in court

MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S. citizen arrested on drug charges in Moscow amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions has appeared in court. Robert Woodland Romanov is facing charges of trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs as part of an organized group — a criminal offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was remanded into custody in January, and the trial began in the Ostankino District Court in late March. A new court hearing is scheduled for next week. The U.S. State Department has said it was aware of a reported detention of a U.S. citizen and prioritized the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, but it refrained from commenting further.