U.S. and Russia Complete Prisoner Swap Involving Cybercriminal and Teacher

Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian cybercriminal, returns to Moscow as U.S. teacher Marc Fogel is freed from Russian custody.

Alexander Vinnik, convicted of operating a cryptocurrency money laundering scheme, was released from U.S. custody and flown to Moscow via Turkey.
The prisoner exchange also secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher detained in Russia since 2021 on drug smuggling charges.
The swap is seen as a diplomatic gesture, marking the first public engagement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's administrations.
Both leaders held a phone call following the exchange and agreed to initiate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Vinnik had been extradited to the U.S. from Greece in 2022 and pleaded guilty in 2024 to laundering billions through the BTC-e cryptocurrency platform.