Russia announced the release of one of its citizens in the US after the return of the American Marc Fogel, held in Russian territory since 2021.
The Russian government announced on Wednesday the release of one of its citizens in the United States after The return of the American Marc Fogelarrested in the Russian nation.
This is Alexander Vinnik, arrested in 2017 in Greece at the request of the United States for fraud charges with cryptocurrencies and was subsequently extradited to the United States, where he declared himself guilty last year of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He is currently in custody in California waiting to be transported back to Russia, they indicated to AP Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the exchange.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that a Russian citizen was released in the United States in exchange for Fogel, but refused to identify him until he arrived in Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he would return to Russia “in the next few days.”
This strategy is different from previous prison exchanges between Moscow and Washington, when Russians and Americans were simultaneously released and their identities were revealed immediately.
Russian Foreign Minister Serguéi Lavrov, was evasive when he was requested on the agreement that led to Fogel's release, saying that such contacts “love silence” and regretting that Washington was hurry to announce Fogel's release .
“Our American colleagues have chosen to announce the results, we have a different approach to the agreements reached,” he said. “For efficient diplomacy, we prefer to observe the confidentiality agreements.”
Fogel, an American history professor who was officially declared as unfairly detained by Russia, returned to US territory on Tuesday night as part of an agreement that President Donald Trump described as “very fair” and very reasonable. “
Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and served a 14 -year prison sentence. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from Donald Trump, left Russia with Fogel and accompanied him to the White House, where Trump received it.
“I feel like the most fortunate man in the world at this time,” said Fogel, next to Trump with an American flag on his shoulders.
(With information from The Associated Press)