British YouTuber arrested close to Russian rocket launchpad
A British YouTube star and his female pal have been arrested close to a Russian rocket launchpad as officials probe their “illegal activity.”
YouTuber Benjamin Rich, who has over 3.5million subscribers, was detained at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, officials said.
The Brit is known for his vlogging account, Bald and Bankrupt, where he shares videos from some of the most dangerous parts of the world.
He’s currently being held by city authorities after he was detained at the Russian spaceport, along with Belarusian woman Alina Tseliupa.
The daring YouTuber was arrested after being “linked to the organisation of illegal actions,” according to Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The agency’s chief, Dmitry Rogozin, posted pictures of Rich’s visa and Tseliupa’s passport – while authorities determine the “exact level of illegal participation” the pair were involved in.
Investigations are ongoing, he said.
Baikonur, once a closed Soviet city, is now open to tourists who apply for permission from Roscosmos.
The area was built during the Soviet era, and the cosmodrome, rented by Russia, was once a centre point for the bloc’s space missions.
UK officials are yet to comment on the arrest.
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