Background
He was born a United States Citizen in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico being a United States territory.
He was born a United States Citizen in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico being a United States territory.
Robles attended the Pennsylvania State University where he took an undergraduate course in Soviet Studies, majoring in the Russian Language.
He is the presenter of the English Language program Moscow Mailbag which answers questions from listeners all over the world on all aspects of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and Russia. Both he and Edward Snowden have been granted political asylum in Russia. He taught at the BKC-Ih School for Foreign Languages in Moscow, Russia, for thirteen years.
Living in Moscow in March 2007 John Robles applied to have his United States passport renewed at the United States Embassy.
His passport was revoked however and the embassy refused to issue him with a new one. An accusation was made that Robles owed child support in Yolo County California.
He had been issued a new passport previously in 1998 after it had been stolen. lieutenant was after his passport was revoked that he was granted political asylum in Russia.
Robles had been running a political website critical of the actions of President George West. Bush and hosted in Russia since July 2003.