THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025 13 Diplomatic Arrests in Yemen and Russia Recent developments in Yemen and Russia highlight escalating threats to Foreign Service personnel and affiliated staff, emphasizing the need for vigilance and resilience in the face of authoritarian crackdowns. In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi militia has detained dozens of individuals linked to the U.S. embassy and the United Nations, including former Yemeni local staff member Shaif alHamdani. After years of detention, following his arrest in 2021, al-Hamdani resurfaced in June 2024 and was forced to appear in a Houthi propaganda video confessing to espionage, a claim dismissed as coerced by U.S. officials. Al-Hamdani’s arrest is part of a broader campaign of repression, with arrests targeting humanitarian workers to exert control over international aid operations. The State Department and humanitarian organizations have condemned these actions, warning of the dire implications for aid delivery in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Meanwhile, in Russia, Robert Shonov, a former Russian local staff member at the U.S. consulate in Vladivostok, was arrested in May 2023 and recently sentenced to nearly five years in prison for “secret collaboration with a foreign state.” Shonov worked at the consulate for more than 25 years. After Moscow placed restrictions on hiring local staff in 2021, Shonov became a contractor, compiling publicly available media reports. The Russian government accused him of passing secret information about the war in Ukraine to the United States, allegations the State Department has strongly denied as baseless. Following his arrest, Russia expelled two U.S. diplomats in September 2023, accusing them of acting as liaisons to Shonov. In recent years, Russia has detained several U.S. nationals under politically motivated charges, often using them as leverage in potential prisoner exchanges. Despite the high-profile prisoner swap involving journalist Evan Gershkovich in August 2024, many U.S. and dual nationals remain imprisoned in Russia under precarious circumstances, including American schoolteacher Marc Fogel. These cases exemplify the challenges faced by Foreign Service personnel and locally employed staff operating in environments where authoritarian regimes use intimidation and false allegations to suppress dissent and control narratives. U.S. Diplomat Wins C3E Award The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized Gina Cady, a USAID Foreign Service officer, as a 2024 C3E International Award winner for her outstanding contributions to clean energy deployment and sustainability. The C3E Awards, now in their 13th year, celebrate women leaders driving innovation and equity in clean energy. Cady leads Power Africa’s Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance (HETA), a $150 million public-private partnership to electrify and connect 10,000 health facilities across sub-Saharan Africa. Her work integrates the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 3 (health) and 7 (energy) to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and reduce energy poverty. In her acceptance speech, Cady highlighted the critical link between energy and health: “Health is a climate issue. Without reliable power, primarily women and children are unable to get the basic care and services they deserve. Doctors are using cell phone lights, and patients are bringing candles for nighttime care. We can do better.” GEC Faces Uncertain Future The State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), a critical hub for countering foreign disinformation campaigns, risks losing its congressional authorization as this edition goes to press. Established in 2016, the GEC has exposed major disinformation efforts by Russia and China, including a recent Kremlin-backed campaign in Africa targeting U.S.-funded health programs. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have led bipartisan efforts to extend its mandate through 2031, but the center faces opposition from some Republican lawmakers. Critics accuse the GEC of overreaching and funding entities perceived as politically biased, such as the Global Disinformation Index, which has labeled certain conservative media outlets as high risk. Special Envoy James Rubin, the GEC’s leader, has emphasized the center’s successes, including detailed reports on Russian and Chinese propaganda and agreements with 21 countries to counter disinformation. Rubin acknowledged concerns over past funding decisions and assured lawmakers of stricter nonpartisan guidelines under the proposed reauthorization. The GEC’s closure could weaken U.S. efforts to combat global disinformation. Foreign allies have praised its work, highlighting its influence on security issues in regions like Africa and Eastern Europe. As debates continue, the State Department remains committed to countering foreign disinformation regardless of the center’s fate.
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