The US authorities have accused the Russian scientist and the researcher at the Harvard School of Medicine, Ksenia Petrova for smuggling of biological materials and say they intend to deport her to Russia, where her legal team warns that she could face the persecution for her views against the war.
Petrova, 31, was formally accused on Wednesday under suspicion of trying to smuggle frog embryos and embryonic samples in the United States that faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted, according to the United States prosecutor’s office in Boston.
Cobra’s voice from an incident of February 16 when Petrova was arrested by Customs officials at Boston Logan International Airport when returning from Paris. His American research visa was revoked the same day, and then placed in immigration arrest.
Petrova’s lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, described the “scandalous and legally indefensible” charges.
“The Government confirmed in court yesterday its intention to deport Ksenia to Russia, where it knows that it will face serious danger for opposing the Putin regime,” he said in a statement sent to Moscow’s times.
Romanovsky argued that Petrova did not need a permission to attract non -living frog embryos, which according to reports are not considered restricted biological materials according to the United States Customs Law.
“Yesterday’s hearing at the Federal District Court in Vermont confirmed that Customs officials and the border patrol did not have a legal basic to cancel Ksenia’s visa and stop it,” he said.
Petrova was an initial hero in Vermont, but was transferred to an immigration and customs application (ICE) in Louisiana. On May 14, a federal judge at Vermont scheduled a bail hearing in his case of unfair detention for May 28. Petrova attended that audience remotely.
“Less than two hours after Vermont judge established a hearing in Ksenia’s release, he was suddenly transferred from ICE to criminal custody,” Romanovsky said.
“This is not a coincidence. It is an attempt by the Government to justify its disdainful and legal non -legal position that this scientist who works for the United States. UU. In priest for cancer and aging investigation has a danger to the community,” the lawyer.
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