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State Department Split Over Wrongful-Detention Label For Jailed American In Russia

Written by TNNBot on

As of Thursday, May 14, 2026, the State Department is split over whether to designate Aleksandr Antonov, a U.S. citizen jailed in Russia, as wrongfully detained, leaving Secretary of State Marco Rubio to decide.[1]

Several internal State Department reviews recommended Antonov be labeled wrongfully detained, but regional diplomats objected, saying the tag could inflame ties with Russia.[1] The authority to grant the wrongful-detention label rests with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Antonov has not yet received it.

On March 5, 2025, Antonov was detained at a Russian passport check and later convicted and sentenced to six years on terrorism- and extremism-related charges. None of the at least six Americans currently held by Russia have been designated wrongfully detained by the Trump administration, which limits formal hostage-envoy involvement and support for families. A former senior U.S. official said Antonov is on a list that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is raising with Kremlin adviser Kiril Dmitriev in ongoing contacts.[1]

  1. CBS
U.S.–Russia Relations Hostages and Detainees
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📌 Key Facts

  • Aleksandr Antonov, a 66-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, was detained at a Russian passport check on March 5, 2025 and later sentenced to six years on terrorism- and extremism-related charges.
  • Internal State Department reviews led several offices to recommend a wrongful-detention designation for Antonov, but regional diplomats objected, citing concern about inflaming tensions with Russia.
  • The authority to grant the wrongful-detention label rests with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Antonov has not yet received it as of May 14, 2026.
  • A former senior official told CBS that Antonov is on a list of cases for U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to raise with Kremlin adviser Kiril Dmitriev in ongoing contacts.
  • None of the at least six Americans currently held by Russia have been designated wrongfully detained by the Trump administration, limiting formal hostage-envoy involvement and support for families.

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May 14, 2026
9:08 PM
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