An American citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years has been released. According to Russian state media, the release was announced on Wednesday during the visit of U.S. Ambassador Steve Witkoff to Moscow.
The former teacher had been sentenced to six years and nine months in 2024. He was accused of having worked as a mercenary for Ukraine. The trial was held behind closed doors, and the accused denied the charges.
Moskovian sources suggest the release is intended as a sign of “goodwill.” This development comes as Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have recently shown signs of reconciliation. Meanwhile, relations between Washington and Kyiv have noticeably cooled.
