"I desperately want to go to Moscow". Belarusian woman awaiting trial in the USA for smuggling aircraft components to Russia hopes for Russian help
Belarusian Yana Leonova, accused of working for Russia, told "MK" about her deportation from France and imprisonment in the USA. She hopes for an exchange after the return of US Marine Robert Gilman from Russia to the US.
Belarusian Yana Leonova is under house arrest in New Jersey after extradition from France. She was accused of purchasing American aviation components after 2022 and transporting them to Russia through third countries. Initially, she faced up to 55 years in prison.
Leonova was born in Vitebsk, grew up in Kazakhstan, and in 2021 moved to Moscow, where she worked in aviation logistics.
She says she had never been to the USA before and did not expect to be arrested: «I considered myself very law-abiding».
US authorities accused her of purchasing American electronics and other aviation equipment through suppliers in the USA, and then sending them to Russia via Armenia and other countries without the necessary licenses. After an agreement with the investigation, only one of the four initial charges remained — violation of the Export Control Reform Act.
Leonova was detained in France, where she had just arrived to celebrate her 33rd birthday. Her extradition process to the USA took 14 months.
She describes the first day in the airport detention center as the most difficult: according to her, she was in a «damp concrete box with barred doors» without windows, where it was cold and she was given neither food nor water.
After extradition to the USA, Leonova spent about two months in a women's detention center. Then she was transferred to house arrest.
Initially, there was talk of a possible 55 years in prison. After pleading guilty and signing a deal with the investigation, she faces three years.
«Such is the statistics for the absolute majority of criminal cases in America: they end with a forced plea of guilty and a deal with the investigation, otherwise one could spend the rest of their life behind bars.
The American system is such that truth cannot be found in it», — says the woman.
After the agreement with the authorities, only one point remained from the original set of charges. Subsequently, she was charged with only one article — violation of the Export Control Reform Act.
The Belarusian woman now lives in a rented room in New Jersey; according to her, her parents cover the costs of housing, food, and other needs. She wears an electronic bracelet and rarely leaves home. Recently, the court allowed her walks, taking into account her health condition.
Leonova primarily hopes for Russia's help. She complains that there is no help from Belarus: «I always said: I am a citizen of the world. I am from Belarus, lived most of my life in Kazakhstan, and in recent years moved to Russia for permanent residence. Each of these countries is my Homeland. I cannot separate one from the other, because they are a part of me. And it pains me that Belarus is not involved in my fate at all».
The woman hopes for a possible exchange after the return of former US Marine Robert Gilman to Russia. Her verdict was supposed to be delivered on August 10, but the hearing was postponed to October 28.
When asked where she would like to return, Leonova replied: «I want to go to Moscow. I can't. My heart aches for it».
Comments
Здаецца, па-беларуску будзе па вар'яцку
Тут в штатах таких зитц-председателей уже на отдельную тюрьму набирается. Их массово используют для поставки военной санкционки в орду. В уши льют одно, а получается вот оно как. Пусть не ждет скорого обмена. Она же не Чапман, она расходник.
Рашка катится в бездну. Это как раньше, ходил человек в супермаркет без проблем, а потом опустился, карточки заблокированы, и надо околачиваться около ликерно-водочного отдела, кого-то ловить чтобы тебе купили бутылку за наличные втридорога, а закуску искать в просрочке на заднем дворе. История успеха.