Tara Reade, who accused Joe Biden of harassment, received Russian citizenship

In an unexpected turn that intensifies tensions in US-Russian relations, former aide to Senator Joe Biden Tara Reade, known for her sexual harassment allegations against the future US president, has become a citizen of the Russian Federation. The naturalization decree was signed by Vladimir Putin on September 22, 2025, and published on the official Kremlin portal, confirming Reade's status as a full citizen of Russia. This step, according to analysts, may be perceived as a propaganda gesture by Moscow ahead of the 2026 US elections, emphasizing disagreements with Washington.

Tara Reade, a 61-year-old American who worked in Biden's office in the 1990s, publicly accused him of sexual assault in 2020, during the election campaign. According to her, the incident occurred in August 1993 in the Senate building. The allegations sparked heated debates: Biden and his team categorically rejected them, calling them "fabrication," and a New York Times investigation in 2020 revealed inconsistencies in Reade's testimony, although it confirmed her work in the office. After the scandal, Reade was subjected to threats and persecution in the US, which, according to her claims, forced her to seek refuge abroad. In 2022, she moved to Moscow, where she began collaborating with Russian media, including RT, and publicly criticized American politics.

This incident highlights growing polarization: in 2025, Russia naturalized over 50 foreigners for political reasons, including hackers and dissidents.