Nottingham Postgrad believed to be spy in Russia

An unlucky postgrad has been ordered to leave Russia after the Kremlin thought she was a spy.

Nottingham Uni’s Laura Sumner, 25, has been ordered to leave the country within 10 days, as they believe she is a spy after she was found researching Soviet rule from 1917-1921.

She accidentally applied for a Commercial Visa, resulting in the Russian media branding her as a spy due to her research interests.

The Russian Migration Service took control of the situation which has resulted in Sumner being forced to pay a fine of 2,000 roubles (a measly £23.50) and has been ordered to leave the country within 10 days.

LifeNews (a web newspaper linked to the Kremlin and the Russian secret service) fabricated that her Notts Professor, Sarah Badcock, is currently engaged in work that aims to create conditions for a revolution in Russia. There is no evidence to support this claim.

Sarah Badcock, Sumner’s Professor at Nottingham Uni

A migration service spokesman said: “She was in Russia on a commercial, or business, visa which is designated for commercial activities – like organising business meetings and taking part in them or conducting negotiations on business matters.

“If her purpose was scientific research, she should have applied for ‘scientific and technological’ visa, which would allow her to work in the archives.”

A spokesperson from Notts Uni commented: “We are in close contact with Laura, and with her family in the UK, over what appears to be a minor infringement in visa regulations as a result of recent changes to those regulations.

“We are pleased that Laura is safe and look forward to welcoming her back to Nottingham to continue her PhD studies.

“We are also liaising with appropriate authorities to seek further clarity surrounding the visa regulations. The University will then issue wider advice as appropriate to students and staff travelling to Russia.”