The 28-year-old American citizen, who was detained in Russia for drug smuggling earlier this month, was released ahead of talks between Washington and Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
Kalob Byers was released to the US Embassy in Moscow late Sunday evening. US officials confirmed with the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Byers' parents also wrote in a Facebook post that he was at the embassy waiting for his home.
Byers was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on February 7 after customs officials allegedly found a marmalade covered in cannabis in their packages.
According to Russian media reports, the 28-year-old was traveling from Istanbul with his Russian fiancée.
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Karob Wayne Byers, a US citizen detained on suspicion of drug smuggling earlier this month, appeared on the court screen on February 15 during a video link to a court hearing in Moscow, Russia. On Sunday evening, US officials confirmed with the Associated Press. (Moscow Municipal Court Press/Reuters)
Authorities accused Byers of “trying to smuggle a significant amount of drugs into the country. According to Russian TASS News Agency, the charges reported that they had been punished in prison for up to 10 years.
It was not immediately clear whether Byers' fiance was also released. Russian media reports identified her as Naida Mambetva and said she was placed in pre-trial custody on the same charges.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered questions from reporters on the Byers on Monday.
“We expect to be able to talk about the full range of Russian-American relations on Tuesday,” Peskov said, referring to the talks between Washington and Moscow in Saudi Arabia. “Therefore, certain events can be seen in this context.”
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High-ranking Russian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss improved relations and the end of the Moscow war without Kiev representatives. The talks aim to lead to a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The arrest of Russian Americans has become increasingly common in recent years, with relations between Moscow and Washington linked to the sinking of war in Ukraine. Some were released in prisoner interactions.
Following Tuesday's release, Alexander Vinnik, left, Mark Vogel. (Getty Images via Nicolas Economou/Nurphoto/Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Byers' release comes when Marc Fogel, a US citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released last week in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik.
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Pennsylvania history teacher Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison at a Russian airport for possession after being arrested in August 2021 at a Russian airport.
Greg Norman and the Associated Press of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
