Kalob Byers
Kalob Byers | |
|---|---|
 Naida Mambetova and her US fiancee, Kalob Byers were arrested at a Moscow airport due to CBD he carried to treat his epilepsy | |
| Born | 1997 (age 27–28) |
Kalob Byers is an American arrested in Russia on drug smuggling charges.[1]
According to The Daily Beast Byers was held for just 10 days.[1] He was never charged. They report that Byers is an epilectic, and uses CBD, a form of cannabis does not get the user "high", to emiliorate the effects of his epilepsy. Drug-sniffing dogs smelled out his supply of CBD, and he was arrested, as CBS is as illegal, in Russia, as the cannabis that gets you high.
The Daily Beast reports Byers had several epilectic seizures while in jail, in Russia.[1]
CNN reports that Byers was released mere hours before senior American officials and senior Russian officials were to meet to discuss the Ukraine War, in Saudi Arabia.[2]
Byers was arrested at Moscow's airport after arriving on a flight from Istanbul.[2] His Russian fiancee, Naida Mambetova, who was flying with him, was also arrested. CBS News reported it was unknown, As of February 17, 2025[update] if she was still in jail, facing charges.
American officials noted that Byers traveled in spite of State Department advice that it was not safe for Americans to enter Russia.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Josh Fiallo (2025-02-17). "American Released by Russia After 10 Days of Hell in Lock Up". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
Those products, reportedly sniffed out of his luggage by a security dog, were to help with severe epileptic seizures he suffers from and not for recreational use, his mom, Tonya Shular, told The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
Kaitlan Collins (2025-02-18). "American arrested in Moscow on drug smuggling charges is freed ahead of Russia-US talks". CNN. Archived from the original on 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
Byers, who was arrested at a Russian airport 10 days ago, was freed only hours before talks between senior US and Russian officials over the war in Ukraine were set to commence in Saudi Arabia.
- ↑
"American Kalob Byers released by Russia after arrest for cannabis, as Trump seeks Ukraine deal". CBS News. 2025-02-17. Archived from the original on 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
A U.S. official confirmed to the AP that Byers was released to the embassy late on Sunday evening. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive matters. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on Byers' case to CBS News on Monday, but they noted the longstanding guidance against traveling to Russia, citing 'the risk of detention for U.S. citizens' in the country and urging any Americans in Russia to 'depart immediately.'
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