Alexander Vinnik’s release came as an unnamed US citizen was also freed by Russian ally Belarus in a separate deal.A Russian cybercrime boss has been freed from prison in the United States after Moscow released American teacher Marc Fogel, reciprocal releases that come as US President Donald Trump seeks to build bridges with Russia and end the war in Ukraine.
Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency hacker and money launderer, was in northern California on Wednesday awaiting transportation back to Russia, the Reuters news agency reports, citing anonymous Trump administration officials.
Vinnik was required to forfeit more than $100m to the US government before being repatriated, one official said.
Arrested in Greece in 2017 on money laundering charges, Vinnik was extradited to the US in 2022. He pleaded guilty in May 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering after funnelling $4bn in proceeds from ransomware attacks, identity theft, drug rings and other criminal activity through his cryptocurrency exchange, BTC-e.
US teacher Fogel, who was released from prison by Russia on Tuesday, was serving a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling after being caught at a Moscow airport with a small amount of medical marijuana in 2021. Advertisement
The 63-year-old flew to Washington the same day, where he celebrated his release with Trump at the White House.
US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said Fogel’s release “serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exchange of prisoners had helped rebuild trust between Washington …