Overview
- Moscow appellate judges rejected Mao’s appeals, leaving a four-year sentence under Article 226.1 in force in a general‑regime penal colony.
- Prosecutors said he sought to move key components for Kalashnikov and Saiga rifles from Russia to the United States via Istanbul without a customs declaration.
- Case materials identify purchases of two stocks and other accessories in Moscow, including from an online contact paid in cryptocurrency and at an official Zenit store.
- Mao first admitted guilt in part, later fully on appeal, said he was unaware of export rules, and transferred the seized items to a Russian military unit that sent a letter of thanks.
- The U.S. State Department warns Americans about detention risks in Russia, a characterization Russian officials dispute as they cite enforcement of domestic law.