Benjamin Rich, whose Youtube channel Bald and Bankrupt has more than 3.5 million followers, is detained near a launch pad in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, which Russia rents to its ally for about $ 115 million a year.
Image: YouTube)
A British youtuber has been arrested in Kazakhstan near a Russian-leased rocket launcher platform.
Benjamin Rich, known for visiting risky and remote destinations through his Bald and Fallida YouTube channel, has been arrested at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The news of the arrest was announced by the head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos.
In an online post, Dmitry Rogozin wrote that Rich – who has 3.53 million followers – and a woman named Alina Tseliupa were detained by one of the launch pads in Baikonur, which Russia rents in Kazakhstan.
Local authorities were determining “the exact level of involvement in illegal activities” of the couple, said Rogozin, who posted photos of Rich’s visa and Tseliupa’s passport.
The Mirror understands that UK officials are aware of the reports and that it is currently being investigated.
Authorities say he has not been approached for help.
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Image:
Russian Space Agency Roscosmos / A)
Some of Rich’s videos show a woman named Alina, but it was not immediately clear if she and Tseliupa were the same person.
The latest video from the Rich Channel was shot in Syria and released on April 24th.
In an Instagram post last week, Rich said “Tanned Syrian and returns to a country with Soviet mosaics,” but did not specify where he was.
The popular YouTuber posted a clip – which has now been viewed 10 million times – about a trip to Moldova entitled: “Nobody visits this country … Find out why.”
In London, the British Foreign Office had no immediate comment.
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Image:
YouTube)
Baikonur, once a closed Soviet city, is now open to tourists seeking permission from Roscosmos.
It is located in the steppe about 1,100 km (680 miles) southwest of the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan.
The city is located in Kazakhstan, but Russia rents it for about $ 115 million a year, according to Caspian News.
It was built during the Soviet era, with the spaceport serving as the launch pad for the block’s satellites and manned space missions.
Less than a week later, a British pro-Russian detainee was forced to read a humiliating confession on video the day after the prisoners were threatened with the death penalty.
Andrew Hill, of Plymouth, was filmed admitting to being “involuntarily” involved in “war crimes” and asking for clemency.
The 35-year-old man was apparently detained in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, which was occupied by Russian forces at the beginning of his offensive.
In the pictures you can see the bearded Mr Hill, father of four children, reading a statement and occasionally stumbling over his words.
The Mirror does not publish the video.
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