Naida Mambetova
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 Naida Mambetova and her US fiancee, Kalob Byers were arrested at a Moscow airport due to CBD he carried to treat his epilepsy. | |
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Naida Mambetova is a Russian engaged to American Kalob Byers.[1][2] The pair were arrested on February 7, 2025, at a Moscow airport, after drug-sniffing dogs were triggered by Byers luggage. Byers was carrying CBD gummies to treat his epilepsy. CBD, a form of cannabis that does not get the user high, is nevertheless illegal, in Russia.
Byers was released late on February 16, 2025, US time.[1][3]
For several days news sources were reporting they did not know if Mambetova had also been released.[1] But the BBC reported that Byers's mother's social media said Mambetova had also been released, and all charges dropped.[3]
Mambetova is a talented musician, who has been performing in a band with childhood friends, since she was a teenager. In once recent video Mambetova sings a cover of the Britney Spears's song Toxic, accompanied by Byers, on acoustic guitar.[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
"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.'
- ↑
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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Alys Davies (2025-02-18). "US confirms release of US national held by Russia". BBC Home. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
In an update on Facebook on Tuesday, Ms Shuler said Ms Mambetova had also been freed and all charges dropped. The BBC has not been able to verify this.
- ↑ "꧁𝕄𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕꧂ on Instagram: "A cover of "toxic" by Britney Spears by Kalob and his fiance @naida.mambetova from the band @_unit_m_". Instagram. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2025-02-18.