Kalob Wayne Byers, a 28-year-old American citizen, has been released from Russian detention following his arrest earlier this month on drug smuggling accusations. Byers was apprehended at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on February 7th after cannabis-infused marmalade was allegedly discovered in his luggage. He was traveling from Istanbul with his Russian fiancée, Naida Mambetova, who was also detained.
Byers' parents reported on social media that their son is currently at the US Embassy in Moscow awaiting a flight home. This information has been corroborated by a US official who confirmed Byers' release to the embassy late Sunday evening, according to the Associated Press. It remains unclear if Mambetova has also been released from Russian custody.
The timing of Byers' release suggests a potential effort to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Russia before high-level discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. These talks between top US and Russian officials are focused on negotiating an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov hinted at the connection between Byers' release and the upcoming talks, stating that Moscow hopes to discuss restoring the broader relationship between the two nations. He suggested that "certain events" should be viewed within this context.
This release comes amidst a recent thaw in US-Russia relations. Last week, President Donald Trump announced a shift in US policy, revealing an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to initiate negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
The arrest of Americans in Russia has become more frequent in recent years, coinciding with the deterioration of relations following Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Several Americans have been released through prisoner exchanges, including Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was imprisoned in Russia on drug charges. Fogel was released last week in exchange for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert facing Bitcoin fraud charges in the US.
Fogel's detention began in August 2021 when he was apprehended at a Russian airport while traveling to teach at a Moscow school. He received a 14-year sentence for drug possession, although his family maintained the drugs were medically prescribed marijuana.
