Moscow welcomed back Alexander Vinnik, a notable figure in the cryptocurrency field, on Thursday following his release in a prisoner exchange that involved the return of American Marc Fogel to the U.S., as reported by local news outlets.
Vinnik was said to have touched down in Moscow after his release from a detention facility in California, with several Russian news agencies confirming the development. Initial reports suggested he was flown from Turkey, but Vinnik later clarified that he actually arrived in Russia aboard a U.S. government aircraft after a stop in Poland.
Expressing his gratitude, Vinnik thanked both Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating his return. In a statement to RIA-Novosti, he shared his feelings of disbelief at being reunited with his family, remarking, “I’m already at home with my family, and I can’t quite believe it yet.”
The Russian was arrested in 2017 in Greece, following a request from U.S. authorities regarding allegations of cryptocurrency fraud, specifically linked to the operations of the BTC-e exchange. After being extradited to the U.S., he pleaded guilty in the previous year to charges related to conspiracy for money laundering.
Earlier in the week, Steve Witkoff, a special envoy under Donald Trump, had departed Russia with Fogel, who was honored at the White House. Fogel, a history teacher, had been wrongfully detained by Russia since his arrest in August 2021 for marijuana possession and was serving a hefty 14-year sentence. The U.S. government indicated that Fogel’s release could signal a thaw in diplomatic tensions, potentially paving the way for renewed discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
While addressing reporters, Trump remarked that the recent prisoner swap might act as a stepping stone toward a peace agreement concerning Ukraine, noting that relations with Russia had improved significantly, stating, “We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.”
Following this development, Trump and Putin engaged in a comprehensive telephone conversation to deliberate on Ukraine and various other subjects the day after the exchange.
