• The US Dept. of State on Monday accused Russia of trying to "intimidate and harass" US employees inside Russia after a former Consulate worker — a Russian citizen — pled guilty to charges of collecting information for Washington. United States Department of State
• Robert Shonov, a longtime employee of the US Consulate in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, was initially arrested in the city in May. After an investigation and further questioning by the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, he was charged with "collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state or international or foreign organization" — he was held at the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. TASS (a)
• On Monday, Shonov pled guilty to the charge from a courtroom inside the prison. In a video of his interrogation released by the FSB, Shonov said he was approached by US embassy employees "seeking information about the key developments in Russia — the special military [operation], mobilization, the coming presidential election and the accession of new territories." TASS (b)
• "I had to collect negative information about these events, find protest sentiment among the population, and report those," Shonov added. He also said he was tasked with finding reporters, politicians, and business people who may be loyal to the US; the FSB said it has summoned two US diplomats in Russia in order to provide further evidence. TASS (b)
• However, in a statement from the US State Dept., it asserted that the allegations against Shonov "are wholly without merit." The statement continued: "As we have stated previously, Mr Shonov was employed by a company contracted to provide services to the US Embassy in Moscow in strict compliance with Russia’s laws and regulations." United States Department of State
• The statement added: "We strongly protest the Russian security services’ attempts — furthered by Russia's state-controlled media — to intimidate and harass our employees. Russia is obligated under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to treat diplomats with due respect...and we expect them to fulfill that obligation." United States Department of State

Pro-establishment narrative:

• The charges against Shonov are wholly without merit. This is simply another demonstration of the Kremlin's crackdown on its own citizens and is part of Russia's attempts to intimidate and harass US employees in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
  United States Department of State

Pro-Russia narrative:

• In filmed testimony, Shonov admitted to collecting sensitive information about Russia for the Americans. This is clearly against the laws in Russia and the courts will deal with this case accordingly.
  TASS

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 4% chance that there will be a deadly clash between the US and Russian armed forces before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)