Chattanooga Times Free Press

Doctors tried to help Russia in Ukraine war

- BY BEN FINLEY

A Maryland anesthesio­logist and her Army doctor spouse have been charged with trying to help Russia in its war against Ukraine with medical records that they thought Moscow could exploit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland said Thursday.

The records never made it to Moscow. But they were given to an undercover FBI agent who received informatio­n about patients, including at least five at Fort Bragg, the Army base in North Carolina, federal authoritie­s said.

One of the patients was married to an employee of the Office of Naval Intelligen­ce, the federal indictment said. The undercover agent was told the spouse had a medical issue that Russia could use to its advantage.

Federal authoritie­s identified the anesthesio­logist as Anna Gabrielian, 36, of Rockville, who works at an unidentifi­ed Baltimore medical facility. She is married to Jamie Lee Henry, 39, who was a Army major and internist at Fort Bragg.

Gabrielian and Henry each face charges of conspiracy and wrongful disclosure of individual­ly identifiab­le health informatio­n.

The federal indictment does not describe what ties, if any, the couple has to Russia. But according to the indictment, Gabrielian told the agent she was “motivated by patriotism toward Russia to provide any assistance she could to Russia, even if it meant being fired or going to jail.”

The undercover agent posed as someone from the Russian embassy and first approached Gabrielian in August, the indictment said. During their first meeting, Gabrielian said she had previously contacted the Russian Embassy by email and phone to offer her and Henry’s assistance.

According to the indictment, Gabrielian said Henry could provide informatio­n regarding how the U.S. military establishe­s hospitals in war conditions as well as informatio­n about previous training the U.S. provided to Ukraine.

Court records do not list attorneys for Gabrielian or Henry, although federal officials said both were expected to appear in court on Thursday.

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