Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik, previously arrested in the United States on cybercrime charges, has been delivered to Russia, his lawyer Arkady Bukh reported. The US Air Force C-37B VIP aircraft carrying Vinnik arrived in Moscow late in the evening. 

Vinnik's lawyer noted that his client's return should not be viewed as a prisoner exchange. According to Bukh, this step was made as part of an "act of goodwill" on the part of the American authorities. 

"The Russian government does not consider this an exchange. It is more of a gesture of goodwill. The work to free Vinnik has been going on for many months. The sentence was postponed until after 2024, so that the Trump team could come to power in the US, since their political philosophy is more libertarian.", — the lawyer explained. 

According to Bukh, strategic planning for Vinnik's release took into account the change in political administration in the United States and the appointment of prosecutors who share more flexible approaches to law enforcement. 

"Political lobbying is not just about prisoner exchanges. It includes amnesties, presidential pardons, and other mechanisms. We are actively working to ensure that many Russians convicted in the United States are returned to their homeland. This is a complex process that involves legal protection and diplomatic interaction.", — the lawyer noted. 

The story of Alexander Vinnik's arrest began in 2017, when he was detained in Greece at the request of the United States. He was accused of involvement in managing the BTC-e cryptocurrency platform and laundering several billion dollars. Vinnik denied all charges, claiming that he was only a technical specialist and had nothing to do with criminal activity. 

After Vinnik's arrest, requests for his extradition came from three countries at once - the United States, Russia and France. In 2020, he was extradited to France, where he was sentenced to five years in prison on fraud charges. He was later handed over to American authorities, who brought more serious charges against him. 

Experts say Vinnik's return to Russia could be part of a broader political deal between Moscow and Washington. The move comes amid intensified talks on a range of humanitarian and human rights issues.