INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
An American rejected his U.S
citizenship in a Moscow court on Thursday, saying he was the victim of political persecution in the United States, Russian state news
agencies reported.Joseph Tater was in court after being accused of assaulting a police officer after abusing staff at a hotel in the Russian
capital last month.In an appeal hearing at the Moscow City Court, he criticized the U.S
was in the hospital, and that he had been arrested in the U.S
His lawyer told the judge he had come to Russia "with the purpose of obtaining political asylum in connection with persecution by the
relevant authorities in the United States."Addressing two U.S
the hearing, the agencies reported.The court rejected his appeal against being held in pre-trial detention until at least October
He faces up to five years in prison.Russia has arrested several U.S
citizens in recent years on charges ranging from espionage and criticizing the Russian army to petty theft and family disputes.Last month,
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