Ukrainian MP Spartz accused of violating the right to bear arms

Ukrainian-born Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz was charged with a weapons offense at Dulles Airport in Virginia, an airport spokesperson confirmed to NBC News on July 1.

The accusation, which took place on June 28, was allegedly brought against Spartz because he carried a firearm into the airport.

“Last Friday, Congresswoman Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun, with no magazine or bullets, in her suitcase without realizing it was in the pocket of her suitcase while going through security at Dulles Airport,” a spokesperson for the congresswoman told NBC News. Under Virginia law, the charge is a misdemeanor.

Spartz was born in a small town in Chernihiv Oblast and moved to the United States in 2000. She is known for her staunch support for former President Donald Trump.

In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Spartz supported aid to Ukraine and spoke about the war in deeply personal terms, but also drew controversy for his attacks on President Volodymyr Zelensky and the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak.

Over the next few years, Spartz shifted her position on Ukraine and became increasingly critical of U.S. aid to the country. She began calling for more “accountability” in funding and was among 112 Republicans in Congress who voted against $61 billion in aid to Ukraine in April.

Politico also reported in June that Spartz was under preliminary investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of abusive treatment of staff and “general toxicity.”

In May, Spartz won the Republican primary in her Indiana district, defeating eight opponents to secure a spot on the ballot for the November election. With her Indiana district being solidly Republican, she is favored to be reelected.