A Russian court has sentenced Robert Shonov, a former US consulate employee in Vladivostok, to four years and 10 months in a penal colony on espionage charges. Shonov was found guilty of collaborating with US officials on intelligence-related tasks concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and public opinion on domestic issues. Shonov formerly led housekeeping operations at the Vladivostok consulate—a role reportedly affording him access to sensitive areas, though largely considered administrative. Russian authorities claim that beginning in 2022, Shonov undertook paid assignments for US embassy…