“They promised that I would be back in two days”: how an American spent two years in a Russian pre-trial detention center because of a cleaning agent

In Russia, an American was released after two years in prison - he ended up behind bars because he purchased a cleaning product on the Internet.

Photo: video frame Voice of America

Geilen Grandstaff met his Russian wife in 2007 in South Carolina. After the wedding, Geilen and Anna moved to Russia: a man began to teach English in Moscow, he says Voice of America. The man has chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, so he often buys drugs online, including on the Chinese Alibaba website.

“There are brokers sitting there who are trying to sell you something extra. I have never agreed to such offers before. This time I bought it,” says Gaylen.

Photo: video frame Voice of America

6 weeks after the purchase, in July 2017, a parcel was delivered to Geilen's house, accompanied by a Russian customs officer, police and witnesses. It turned out that the purchased solvent contains a chemical substance that is classified as a drug in Russia. For this, the American was accused of drug smuggling.

“We talked, and the policeman said that we should go with him. It was 4:30 am. He said: don’t worry, you are not the person we are looking for, we understand that. He said that in two days I would return home,” says Gaylen.

On the subject: A teacher from the USA sits in a Russian detention center for buying a cleaning agent on the Internet for a year

The Grandstaff case hovered in mid-air, and the two promised days turned into two years. The crime of which he was suspected provided for 20 years of imprisonment. The man survived isolation and beatings while in prison.

“You always had to be ready to defend yourself. As a rule, it was not one on one. There were usually a lot of them."

Photo: video frame Voice of America

When the prosecutor's office failed to convict Geilen for smuggling, the investigation tried to prove that he had used drugs to build muscle.

“Law enforcement agencies began to prove that this 53-year-old man wanted to build muscle,” says lawyer Anton Omelchenko. “Given that a plate is inserted in his neck due to injury.”

On the subject: Russian 10 faces years in prison in the United States for purchasing aircraft instructions on eBay

While behind bars, Grandstaff began to study Russian and learned to draw. The man documented his daily life in prison, portraying himself as a teddy bear.

Photo: video frame Voice of America

His case was monitored by American diplomats and journalists. They came to court, sent someone from the consulate to monitor the situation, but practically did not intervene.

In March of this year, a Russian court unexpectedly released Grandstaff and sent his case for review.

“Most likely, they allowed the case to be reconsidered thanks to your colleagues in the press who told about this story,” the lawyer says.

Now Grandstaff cannot leave Russia - his case is still being reviewed. He returned home to Moscow, where he is recovering from injuries received in prison.

Photo: video frame Voice of America

“I want them to leave us alone and never take him away from me again,” says wife Anna Grandstaff.

Read also on ForumDaily:

'This is crazy': an American spoke about 600 days in a Russian jail

"Revenge for sanctions." American detained in Russia complains of lawlessness

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.