Americans in Moscow arrested and released for drug trafficking and released

Americans in Moscow arrested and released for drug trafficking and released

Russia released a US citizen who was arrested at the beginning of this month due to drug trafficking, reporting Russian media and a US official.

Development of relationships between Moscow and Washington

This step seems to be an attempt to tensions between Moscow and Washington before the Talks to defuse.

arrest of Kalob Byers

Kalob Byers, 28 years old, was arrested at Wnukowo Airport in Moscow on February 7, after customs officers allegedly found cannabis -containing jam in his luggage. According to media reports, Byers from Istanbul had traveled with his Russian fiance, who was also arrested. The authorities stated that he had tried to smuggle an "significant amount of" drugs into the country, and put it in custody for drug trafficking, which is punished with a prison sentence of up to 10 years

release and stay in the US message

Byers was released from custody and is now in the US message in Moscow, where he is waiting for a return flight to the USA, the independent Russian news portal Meduza reported on Monday, citing a Facebook contribution of his parents. A US official confirmed to the Associated Press news agency that Byers was handed over to the message late on Sunday evening. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about confidential matters.

Kreml comments on the negotiations

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed the reporters on Monday to the question of Byers that Moscow was expected to "discuss the entire complex of Russian-American relationships" during the conversations in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, so that certain events can be considered in this context.

ambiguities about the fiancee of Byers

It was initially unclear whether Byers' fiancee was also released. Russian media reports identified as Naida Mambetova and reported that she also sitting in custody on the same accusation.

Frequency of arrests of American citizens in Russia

In recent years, arrests of American citizens in Russia have become increasingly common because the relationships between Moscow and Washington have dropped to a low point due to the war in Ukraine. Some were released as part of prisoners. The most recent case concerned , a teacher from Pennsylvania because of similar charges as those who were opposed to Byers.