The Russian government has released an American citizen detained on minor drug charges just ahead of scheduled diplomatic talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, the New York Times reported Monday.
Kalob Byers Wayne, 28, was arrested at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on February 7 after customs officials discovered cannabis-laced marmalade in his luggage. He had been held on charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana.
The Kremlin’s spokesperson suggested that the timing of Wayne’s release could be linked to Tuesday’s talks in Saudi Arabia, which are set to focus on restoring relations between Washington and Moscow. “Certain events can be viewed in this context,” the Times quoted the spokesperson as saying.
U.S. officials have not yet commented on Wayne’s release or whether it was part of a broader negotiation effort. The meeting in Saudi Arabia marks one of the few direct engagements between the two governments since the start of the Ukraine war, as tensions between the U.S. and Russia remain high.
Wayne’s detention is one of several recent cases involving Americans held in Russia on drug-related or politically sensitive charges. U.S. officials continue to push for the release of other detained citizens, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, both accused of espionage by Russian authorities.
