Charles Zimmerman, a 58-year-old former US Navy sailor, was sentenced to five years in Russia after authorities said a rifle was found aboard his yacht in Sochi. The Krasnodar court said he admitted guilt; Zimmerman’s family says he was intercepted in international waters while sailing from North Carolina to New Zealand and voluntarily surrendered the firearm. The family has contacted the US Embassy and the FBI, and an appeal was reportedly rejected. Public records show inconsistencies in the timeline that have not been resolved.
US Navy Veteran Sentenced to Five Years in Russia After Rifle Found on Yacht; Family Says He Was Intercepted at Sea
Charles Zimmerman’s family said he was wrongfully detained in international waters - @opskuban/Telegram
A Russian court has sentenced Charles Zimmerman, a 58-year-old former US Navy serviceman, to five years in prison after authorities said a rifle was found aboard his 35-foot yacht, the Trude Zena, when it docked in Sochi.
Krasnodar regional court announced that Mr. Zimmerman was convicted of illegally transporting weapons and said he "admitted his guilt in full." The court also said he had sailed from the Atlantic across the Mediterranean and visited Russia to see a woman he had met online. The ruling noted that foreign vessels are not permitted to carry weapons while moored in Russian ports and added: "Ignorance of the laws does not exempt from responsibility."
Family Account and Claims of Interception
Zimmerman’s family strongly disputes the court’s account. They say the Virginia resident spent his life savings on the Trude Zena and set off from North Carolina bound for New Zealand, intending to work as an electrician once he arrived. According to family members and a website campaigning for his release, the Russian navy intercepted his yacht and forced it to Sochi.
His sister, Robin Stultz, says he messaged her during the incident and sent a photograph of a Russian frigate she says was following his boat. The family claims Zimmerman was escorted for about 22 hours to Sochi, where authorities inspected the vessel. They say he voluntarily declared a firearm kept for self-protection and handed it over when requested, and that he expected at most a fine.
Timeline Issues and Official Notices
Public records show some timeline inconsistencies. The US Coast Guard posted a missing person alert in September 2024 for a man identified as Charles Zimmerman, saying he was last heard from on 23 July 2024 after departing Fort Macon, North Carolina. The family’s account gives the date of interception as 17 July in one version of events; other statements give different years. These discrepancies have not been reconciled publicly.
Legal Process, Evidence and Appeal
The court published a social media slideshow alongside its announcement that included a short video of a white sailing vessel, photos of a rifle and ammunition authorities said were recovered, and images of a man on board. Russian media had not widely reported the arrest or conviction previously, which observers note is unusual given Moscow’s frequent coverage of legal cases involving foreign nationals.
According to the court, an appeal was considered and rejected. The family says they have been in contact with the US Embassy in Moscow, the FBI, and Mr. Zimmerman’s court-appointed lawyer. The family contests any confession reported by Russian authorities and has called for him to be declared wrongfully detained.
Context
Observers and family members point to a pattern in which Moscow has been accused of detaining foreign or dual nationals for leverage in prisoner exchanges or diplomatic negotiations. US officials have not publicly confirmed details of consular access in this specific case beyond the family's statements that they have sought help from the embassy and the FBI.
Note: This article summarizes conflicting accounts from Russian court records and the family. Details such as exact dates and the sequence of events differ between sources and have not been independently verified.
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