A man with dual Russian and German citizenship was detained yesterday in St. Petersburg, Reuters reported, citing local media and people who know him, BTA reported.
Some Russian media reported that he was suspected of committing treason, the agency noted.
Hermann Moises, a 39-year-old lawyer who grew up in Germany but has returned to live and work in his native country, has become part of a growing list of foreign nationals detained in Russia who are caught up in the crisis in relations between Moscow and the West because of the war in Ukraine.
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed Moises' arrest in a statement to Reuters and said the embassy in Moscow was in contact with his family.
"The case is known to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It refers to a person with German and Russian citizenship," said an official of the department. He noted that for two years Moscow has denied Germany consular access to its citizens in Russian prisons, but specified that Berlin remains "firmly committed to consular access in this and other cases".
Russian authorities have not yet officially confirmed the detention of Moises, and there is currently no information on the charges against him.
Independent Russian media reported that Moises had been charged with treason, a crime that carries a life sentence, but did not provide details to support the claim. Acquittals in treason cases are almost non-existent in Russia, notes Reuters.
Moises worked as a lawyer and was a managing partner at the Cologne-based Avers Group, according to the consultancy's website. It also says the firm provides business support and real estate management services, as well as assisting wealthy citizens of former Soviet republics, including Russia, to obtain residence permits in Germany.
Reuters notes that it is unclear whether Moises' arrest is directly related to his professional activities.