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Alexander Vinic's release came as an unnamed US citizen was also released by Russian ally Belarus in a separate deal.
A Russian chief of cybercrime was released from prison in the United States after Moscow released American teacher Mark FogelReciprocal publications that come as President of the United States Donald Trump seeks to build bridges with Russia and end the war in Ukraine.
Alexander Vinic, a Russian cryptocurrency hacker and money launder, was in Northern California on Wednesday waiting for transport back to Russia, according to Reuters news agency, citing anonymous Trump administration officials.
Vinic was obliged to take more than $ 100 million in the US government before being repatriated, an employee said.
Arrested in Greece in 2017. On charges of money laundering, Vinic was extradited to the United States in 2022. He pleaded guilty in May 2024 for a conspiracy for money laundering after a $ 4 billion funnel at receipts from receipts ransom attacks, theft through its cryptocurrency exchange, BTC-E.
American teacher fogelWho was released from prison from Russia on Tuesday, served a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling after being caught at an airport in Moscow with a small amount of medical marijuana in 2021.
The 63-year-old flew to Washington the same day, where he celebrated his release with Trump in the White House.
The US National Security Advisor, Mike Wals, said the release of Fogel “served as a display of good faith from the Russians and a sign we were moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exchange of prisoners helped restore confidence between Washington and Moscow, but reduced suggestions that it could lead to a breakthrough in Ukraine.
“Of course, such agreements are hardly capable of becoming a breakthrough moment, but at the same time, little by little, these are steps to build mutual trust, which is now at its lowest point,” Peskov said.
In a separate deal announced on Wednesday, the White House confirmed that it also secured the release of another US citizen who is serving a prison in Belarus, a close Russian ally.
The White House, which did not specify the detainee, announced the release as a “remarkable victory” for the Trump administration and a certificate of the “ability to deal” the president.
“President Trump's strong leadership led to the release of an American unfairly detained in Belarus and two political prisoners,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We remain engaged in the release of other US citizens in Belarus and elsewhere,” he added.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, US -funded Media Government, described one of those released from prison in the capital of Belarus Vilnius as Andrei Kuznechik S
In a statement from the press, the White House said the release was 11 from an American citizen closed abroad since Trump took office at the end of last month.
The release of prisoners is part of a broader diplomatic impetus from the White House to restore connections with Moscow and end war in Ukraine – which Trump has promised to do “within 24 hours” after taking the oath during his presidential campaign S
On Wednesday, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone and agreed to start negotiations for a truce in Ukraine. Trump said he thought he was “about to get peace” after a time phone call.
