Washington • The State Department says it is aware of the detention of two missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia, and there is no “higher priority” than the protection of U.S. citizens abroad.
The two missionaries — called “volunteers” in Russia because they are not allowed to proselytize — were detained Friday in the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk while at a church building. The Moscow Times reported the two may be deported.
“We are aware of reports of two U.S. citizens detained in Novorossiysk, Russia,” a State Department spokesperson said Thursday on background.