Who are the Americans still in Russian custody?
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Who are the Americans still in Russian custody?

Associated Press  

Russia has released an American teacher imprisoned over what his family said was prescribed medical marijuana, but several other Americans remain in Russian custody. STEPHEN HUBBARD — The Michigan native was convicted of fighting alongside Ukraine’s military as a mercenary against Russia and sentenced to 6 years and 10 months in October 2024. GORDON BLACK — An Army staff sergeant, Black was convicted in June 2024 in Vladivostok of stealing and making threats against his girlfriend, and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. ROBERT WOODLAND — Woodland, a Russia-born U.S. citizen, was convicted of drug trafficking in July 2024 and sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison. Spector, formerly an executive at a medical equipment company in Russia, was previously sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in September 2022 for enabling bribes to a Russian government official.

Ukraine Russia Prison Russian American Arrested Cia Sentenced Fogel Russian Custody 2024 Convicted  americans  sentenced  russian  american  arrested  russia  charges  2022  prison  custody  2024  convicted

History of this topic

American Arrested In Moscow On Drug Smuggling Charges Is Freed Ahead Of Russia-U.S. Talks
1 month ago

American Arrested In Moscow On Drug Smuggling Charges Is Freed Ahead Of Russia-U.S. Talks

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Russia has freed a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month on drug smuggling charges, according to Russian media reports and a U.S. official. Byers has been released from custody and is in the U.S. embassy in Moscow where he is awaiting a flight home, Russian independent news outlet Meduza reported Monday, citing a Facebook post by his …

American arrested in Moscow on drug smuggling charges is freed ahead of Russia-US talks
1 month ago

American arrested in Moscow on drug smuggling charges is freed ahead of Russia-US talks

Associated Press  

Russia has freed a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month on drug smuggling charges, according to Russian media reports and a U.S. official. Byers has been released from custody and is in the U.S. embassy in Moscow where he is awaiting a flight home, Russian independent news outlet Meduza reported Monday, citing a Facebook post by his parents. Kremlin spokesman …

Russian court orders US citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in custody
1 month, 1 week ago

Russian court orders US citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in custody

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A Moscow court has ordered a U.S. citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in pre-trial detention for 30 days, the Moscow courts press service said Saturday, days after a Moscow-Washington prisoner swap that the White House called a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the fighting in Ukraine. Russian police said the 28-year-old American had attempted to …

American faces seven-year sentence in Russia for drug smuggling
1 month, 1 week ago

American faces seven-year sentence in Russia for drug smuggling

India Today  

MOSCOW : A Moscow court has ordered a U.S. citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in pre-trial detention for 30 days, the Moscow courts press service said Saturday, days after a Moscow-Washington prisoner swap that the White House called a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the fighting in Ukraine. Russian police said the 28-year-old American had attempted to …

Russia detains another US citizen on drugs charges days after swap, reports say
1 month, 1 week ago

Russia detains another US citizen on drugs charges days after swap, reports say

Associated Press  

MOSCOW, Russia — Russia has detained another U.S. citizen, after customs officials found cannabis-laced marmalade in his luggage, Russian media said Friday, days after a Moscow-Washington prisoner swap that the White House called a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the fighting in Ukraine. Russian police said the 28-year-old American had attempted to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs …

The U.S. citizens held in Russian prisons
1 month, 1 week ago

The U.S. citizens held in Russian prisons

Raw Story  

American Marc Fogel is back on US soil Wednesday after being released from a Russian prison, in what US President Donald Trump said he hoped was the start of warming ties between Washington and Moscow. - Stephen Hubbard - Stephen Hubbard, 72, is serving almost seven years in prison after a Russian court convicted him of fighting as a mercenary …

Who is Marc Fogel, the US teacher freed by Russia? Why is Trump making a big deal about it?
1 month, 1 week ago

Who is Marc Fogel, the US teacher freed by Russia? Why is Trump making a big deal about it?

Firstpost  

Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American teacher, was arrested in August 2021 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for carrying 17 grammes of medically prescribed marijuana. After three and a half years in Russian detention, he was released in a deal brokered under US President Donald Trump’s administration US President Donald Trump holds an event to welcome back released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, …

Trump pal secures release of U.S. teacher held in Russia on weed charges
1 month, 1 week ago

Trump pal secures release of U.S. teacher held in Russia on weed charges

Raw Story  

Donald Trump's administration secured the release of an American teacher imprisoned in Russia on drug charges. Steve Witkoff, the president's special envoy to the Middle East, a New York real estate executive and a personal friend of Trump, negotiated a deal with the Kremlin to release Marc Fogel, who was arrested in August 2021 and accused of bringing medical marijuana …

Russia has released detained American teacher Marc Fogel, the White House says
Top News
1 month, 1 week ago

Russia has released detained American teacher Marc Fogel, the White House says

LA Times  

Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia, has been released, the White House announced on Tuesday. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Trump, left Russian airspace with Fogel, who is from Pennsylvania, and he was expected to be reunited with his family by the end of the day. Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, said the U.S. and …

US teacher jailed in Russia is formally designated as wrongfully detained
2 months, 3 weeks ago

US teacher jailed in Russia is formally designated as wrongfully detained

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — An American schoolteacher arrested in Russia on drug charges more than four years ago has been designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained, the State Department said Friday. After Fogel was omitted from a massive prisoner swap last August that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and corporate security executive Paul Whelan, …

Russia jails US citizen for 15 years, says leaked biotechnology secrets
Trending News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia jails US citizen for 15 years, says leaked biotechnology secrets

India Today  

Eugene Spector, a US citizen jailed for a total of 15 years this week after a Moscow court convicted him of espionage, was found guilty of passing biotechnology secrets to the United States, Russia's FSB security service said on Friday. Russian state news agencies reported on Tuesday that Spector, who was born in Russia and then moved to the US, …

Russia’s security service says jailed American leaked biotechnology secrets
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia’s security service says jailed American leaked biotechnology secrets

Al Jazeera  

Eugene Spector, a US citizen born in Russia, has been sentenced to 15 years in a maximum security Russian penal colony. Russia’s FSB security service has said a US citizen sentenced to a 15-year jail term this week was found guilty of leaking biotechnology secrets to the United States. “The American, acting in the interests of the Pentagon and a …

Russia sentences US man to 15 years in prison for ‘espionage’ in secretive trial: Report
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia sentences US man to 15 years in prison for ‘espionage’ in secretive trial: Report

Hindustan Times  

A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced a US man to 15 years in a penal colony for "espionage", Russian news agencies reported. Representative image: Gene Spector was sentenced to "15 years to be served in a strict-regime penal colony" by a trial court Russia has detained and sentenced a number of US citizens and dual-nationals in recent years, some of …

Who are the Americans still left in Russian prisons after massive prisoner swap?
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Who are the Americans still left in Russian prisons after massive prisoner swap?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old school …

Russia and West ‘prepare for prisoner swap’
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Russia and West ‘prepare for prisoner swap’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The exchange, which could Mr Gershkovich, who was sentenced …

Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva released from Russia in major prisoner swap
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva released from Russia in major prisoner swap

ABC  

Three Americans who were sentenced to years in Russian penal colonies after secret "sham" trials are among 24 people who have been freed under the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War, the US says. The freed Americans include the Wall Street Journal's Moscow correspondent Evan Gershkovich and car parts company executive Paul Whelan, who were each serving 16-year …

Russian-American journalist Kurmasheva jailed for over six years
8 months ago

Russian-American journalist Kurmasheva jailed for over six years

Hindustan Times  

A Russian court has sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, to 6-1/2 years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army, the court revealed on Monday. Friday was also the day a separate court in Yekaterinburg sentenced another U.S. citizen, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, to 16 years in prison for …

Russia sentences U.S. citizen to 12.5 years in prison on drug charges
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Russia sentences U.S. citizen to 12.5 years in prison on drug charges

LA Times  

Robert Woodland, right, a Russia-born U.S. citizen, stands in a glass cage as he talks with lawyer Stanislav Kshevitsky before a court hearing on July 4, 2024, in Moscow. Robert Woodland, a Russia-born U.S. citizen, was convicted of drug-related charges by a Moscow court and sentenced to 12½ years in prison on Thursday, court officials and his lawyers said. Russian …

Who are some of the Americans behind bars in Russia, and what are the prospects for their release?
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Who are some of the Americans behind bars in Russia, and what are the prospects for their release?

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Arrests of Americans in Russia have become increasingly common with relations sinking to Cold War lows. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was convicted of espionage Friday and sentenced to 16 years in prison in a trial that his employer and the U.S. government denounced as a sham. ROBERT GILMAN — Identified in the media as a …

More Americans are ending up in Russian jails. Prospects for their release are unclear
8 months, 3 weeks ago

More Americans are ending up in Russian jails. Prospects for their release are unclear

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. … At least that’s what it looks like,” said …

A US citizen facing drug charges in Russia appears in court. His case was adjourned until mid-May
10 months, 3 weeks ago

A US citizen facing drug charges in Russia appears in court. His case was adjourned until mid-May

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A U.S. citizen arrested on drug charges in Moscow amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions appeared in court on Thursday and had his case adjourned until mid-May. Robert Woodland is facing charges of trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs as part of an organized group — a criminal offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In January, the …

Court orders a detained Russia-US journalist to remain in custody for two more months
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Court orders a detained Russia-US journalist to remain in custody for two more months

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A court in Russia on Monday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to be held in jail for two more months pending investigation and trial, in a further step in the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent and free speech. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was taken into custody on Oct. 18 …

A growing number of Americans end up in Russian jails. The prospects for their release are unclear
11 months, 3 weeks ago

A growing number of Americans end up in Russian jails. The prospects for their release are unclear

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Kurmasheva’s husband, Pavel Butorin, told The Associated Press shortly …

Who are the Russian dissidents still serving time after Alexei Navalny died behind bars?
1 year ago

Who are the Russian dissidents still serving time after Alexei Navalny died behind bars?

Associated Press  

TALLINN, Estonia — Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to secure his fifth term in power this month on the heels of opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in prison, which devastated Kremlin critics and spurred concerns about the safety of other imprisoned dissidents. LILIA CHANYSHEVA, SERVING 7 ½ YEARS Lilia Chanysheva, the 42-year-old former head of Alexei Navalny’s office in …

A Russian court extends the pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying
1 year, 1 month ago

A Russian court extends the pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A court in the Russian capital ruled Tuesday to keep Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in custody pending his trial on espionage charges that he denies. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday that “we’re disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the hearing” that upheld Gershkovich’s detention. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus said in a …

Russian court extends detention of Russian-US journalist
1 year, 1 month ago

Russian court extends detention of Russian-US journalist

Associated Press  

MOSCOW — A Russian court on Thursday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to be held in jail for two more months pending trial in a case widely seen as part of the Kremlin’s unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was taken into custody on Oct. …

What to know about Brittney Griner’s case and Russia’s drug laws
2 years, 7 months ago

What to know about Brittney Griner’s case and Russia’s drug laws

Al Jazeera  

Moscow’s harsh drug laws are under the spotlight following the American basketball star’s arrest. “There was a well-known case where a narcotics detective accused his colleagues of creating their own drug store over the dark net, hiring couriers and other workers, then busting them all and pretending they’d broken up an organised ring – a crime they’d instigated themselves,” human …

Granderson: If we want Russia to free Brittney Griner, Americans must show some principles ourselves
2 years, 8 months ago

Granderson: If we want Russia to free Brittney Griner, Americans must show some principles ourselves

LA Times  

Asadullah Haroon Gul went home last week. Just as the Supreme Court was threatening half a century of progress on human rights as it overturned Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. also took time to remind the world that: 1. the greatest democracy on the planet was almost killed off by a former reality TV host, and 2. we’ve kept a …

Russia jails former US embassy worker for smuggling drugs
2 years, 9 months ago

Russia jails former US embassy worker for smuggling drugs

Al Jazeera  

Marc Fogel is the latest American to be caught up in Russia’s legal system as tensions between Washington and Moscow soar. A Moscow court has sentenced a former US embassy employee to 14 years in prison in a maximum security facility for “large-scale” cannabis smuggling and illegal storage of drugs without a commercial purpose. In April, the United States exchanged …

US teacher arrested in Russia for ‘large-scale’ drug smuggling
3 years, 1 month ago

US teacher arrested in Russia for ‘large-scale’ drug smuggling

Al Jazeera  

Russian authorities say an American teacher was arrested in Moscow for “large-scale” drug smuggling after cannabis products were found on him at the airport. Marc Fogel, who is a former employee of the US Embassy in Moscow, was passing through customs in August last year when trained dogs reacted to his luggage, the Russian interior ministry said on Thursday, adding …

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