US musician arrested in Moscow bewildered at drugs charges

Travis Michael Leake, described as someone who loves Russia, says ‘I don’t understand why I’m here. I do not admit my guilt’

A US citizen arrested in Russia on drugs charges this week is a military veteran who lived in Moscow for nearly a decade, working as a musician, rock band manager and appearing in an interview with the late food and travel journalist Anthony Bourdain.

Travis Michael Leake and a friend, Valeria Grobanyuk, were arrested earlier this week in a drugs raid that has the potential to further ignite tensions between Washington and Moscow. The State Department has warned Americans to steer clear of Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and a number of recent arrests of US citizens.