Statement by U.S. Ambassador Sullivan on detained U.S. citizen Michael Calvey

Founder of the Baring Vostok investment fund Michael Calvey, wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus, arrives to attend a hearing on extending his house arrest in Moscow, Russia. Calvey has been under house arrest since April 2019 - on fraud charges widely seen as controversial. (AP Phot

February 14 marked two years since U.S. citizen Michael Calvey was arrested and criminally charged over what is clearly a private business dispute.

Today, February 17, Mr. Calvey was allowed to give his testimony in court. We hope this will be a fair and transparent judicial process that concludes with justice for Mr. Calvey.

The criminalization of commercial disputes casts a pall on the business climate and serves as a disincentive to foreign investment in Russia.