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List of American people imprisoned abroad

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This list represents a sample of American people imprisoned abroad by state and non-state actors, past and present. This list includes both citizens of the United States and legal permanent residents. It represents individuals imprisoned through various channels, including tried crimes and kidnappings. It does not include American prisoners of war or war-time kidnappings.

The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) Roger D. Carstens leads and coordinates activities across the Executive Branch to bring home Americans held hostage in other countries. Non-governmental organizations that advocate for the return of Americans imprisoned abroad include the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the James Foley Legacy Foundation, and the Bring Our Families Home Campaign.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Africa

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
Jeffrey Woodke 14 October 2016 20 March 2023 2348 Kidnapped for monetary ransom [1]
Paul Rusesabagina 31 August 2020 25 March 2023 1575 Arrested on charges of terrorism, arson, kidnap and "murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory".
Ryan Koher 4 November 2022 5 October 2023 780 Arrested trying to fly supplies to orphanage in Northern Mozambique and was held without charges or bail. March 15, 2023 provisionally released but forbidden from leaving country. [2]
Marcel Malanga 19 May 2024 In detention 218 Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [3]
Tyler Thompson 19 May 2024 In detention 218 Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [4]
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun 19 May 2024 In detention 218 Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [5]

Asia

[edit]

Afghanistan

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
Mark Frerichs 31 January 2020 19 September 2022 962 Kidnapped by the Haqqani network
Ryan Corbett 10 August 2022 In detention 866

China

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
Kai Li July 2018 27 November 2024 ~2341 espionage [6]
Mark Swidan 13 November 2012 27 November 2024 4397 Assisting the transportation and payment of technicians to manufacture methamphetamine [7]
David Lin 2006 16 September 2024 5844 contract fraud and sentenced to life in prison [8]

Iran

[edit]
Further information: List of foreign nationals detained in Iran § U.S. citizens
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Notes Ref.
Robert Levinson 9 March 2007 Deceased while in detention [9]
Emad Shargi 30 November 2020 18 September 2023 1484 Espionage/Spying Sentenced to 10 years in January 2021.
Had previously been cleared in December 2019 		[10][11]
Morad Tahbaz January 2018 18 September 2023 ~2548 [12]
Baquer Namazi 22 February 2016 5 October 2022 3227 Espionage/Spying [13]
Siamak Namazi 13 October 2015 18 September 2023 3357 [14]
Shahab Dalili 2016 In detention ~2922 "Aiding and abetting" the U.S. [15]

North Korea

[edit]
Further information: List of foreign nationals detained in North Korea § Detained U.S. citizens

Russia

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
James Vincent Wilgus 7 November 2016 In detention 2968 indecent exposure [16]
Thomas Stwalley 6 July 2018 In detention 2362 intent to distribute marijuana [17]
Paul Whelan 28 December 2018 1 August 2024 2043 espionage
Trevor Reed 16 August 2019 27 April 2022 985 violence against an officer [18]
Eugene Spector 19 February 2020 In detention 1769 bribery and espionage [19]
Marc Fogel 15 August 2021 In detention 1226 marijuana possession [20][21]
Sarah Krivanek 15 December 2021 8 December 2022 358 domestic dispute [22][23]
Andre Khachatoorian 27 December 2021 In detention 1092 illegal possession of a firearm [24]
David Barnes 13 January 2022 In detention 1075 child abuse (custody dispute) [25]
Robert Gilman 17 January 2022 In detention 1071 assault of a police officer [26]
Brittney Griner 17 February 2022 8 December 2022 294 possession of hashish oil
Evan Gershkovich 29 March 2023 1 August 2024 491 espionage [27]
Michael Travis Leake 6 June 2023 In detention 566 intent to distribute drugs [28]
Alsu Kurmasheva 18 October 2023 1 August 2024 288 failure to register as a foreign agent [29]
Yuri Malev 8 December 2023 In detention 381 rehabilitation of Nazism [30]
Robert Woodland 5 January 2024 In detention 353 intent to distribute drugs [31]
Ksenia Karelina 27 January 2024 In detention 331 suspicion of treason [32]
Gordon Black 2 May 2024 In detention 235 theft and making threats [33]
Steven Hubbard 2 April 2022 In detention 996 fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine [34]

Syria

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
Austin Tice 13 August 2012 In detention 4515
Majd Kamalmaz 15 February 2017 Deceased while in detention
Travis Pete Timmerman 5 June 2024 8 December 2024 186 Illegal entry into country [35]

United Arab Emirates

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention United Nations Ref.
Zack Shahin March 2008 In detention ~6141 Accused of bribery and embezzlement Designated arbitrarily detained per the United Nations Working Group ruling of March 2023 which ordered his immediate release, listed reparations to be paid by the United Arab Emirates government, Yemen government as well as Emirates Airlines to Zack Shahin, and repatriation back to the United States. The ruling found that Zack Shahin was a victim of kidnapping, failure of due process, faulty trials with no evidence, arbitrary detention, and much more. [36][dead link‍][37]

South America

[edit]

Venezuela

[edit]
Name Detained Released Days in detention Reason for detention Ref.
Eyvin Hernandez 29 March 2022 December 21 2023 1000 Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John Heath September 2020 October 1 2022 ~1574 Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Airan Berry May 2020 December 21 2023 ~1697 Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [38]
Luke Denman May 2020 December 21 2023 ~1697 Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [38]
Gustavo Cárdenas 21 November 2017 March 9 2022 1569 Arrested for corruption charges and detained among the Citgo Six
Tomeu Vadell 21 November 2017 October 1 2022 1775
Jorge Toledo 21 November 2017 October 1 2022 1775
Alirio Zambrano 21 November 2017 October 1 2022 1775
Jose Luis Zambrano 21 November 2017 October 1 2022 1775
Jose Angel Pereira 21 November 2017 October 1 2022 1775

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Korpar, Lora (2021-11-18). "Wife of American man kidnapped 5 years ago in Africa says release being hindered by U.S." Newsweek. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  2. ^ https://maf.org/press/ryan-kohers/
  3. ^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  5. ^ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah. "3 Americans implicated in a coup attempt in Congo go on trial before a military court". AP.com. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  6. ^ James Griffiths. "How this Long Island man ended up in Chinese prison on espionage charges". CNN. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  7. ^ Amanatullah, Samy (2020-11-30). "The Dui Hua Foundation - American Citizen Mark Swidan: Eight Years in Jiangmen Detention Center". The Dui Hua Foundation. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  8. ^ Muzaffar, Maroosha (2024-09-16). "China frees American pastor David Lin after 18 years". MSN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  9. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/us/politics/robert-levinson-cia-iran.html
  10. ^ Luce, Dan De (2021-01-17). "Iran jailed another American, jeopardizing Biden's plans for diplomacy". NBC News.
  11. ^ Coleman, Justine (2021-01-17). "Iran convicts American businessman on spying charge: report". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  12. ^ "Environmentalists Detained in Crackdown Denied Legal Counsel Amid Claims Some Were 'Jewish Spies'". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 5 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Revolutionary Guards Mark Anniversary of Dual National Siamak Namazi's Arrest With Propaganda Video". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019.
  14. ^ "UN Urged to Take Immediate Action on Namazis". IranWire. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Iranian-American woman asks for release of husband held in Iran". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  16. ^ Baca, Nathan; Knier, Becca (31 March 2023). "'The forgotten American' in Russian prison". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  17. ^ Forrest, Brett (18 June 2023). "Russia's Grim 'Fashion Colony': Americans Describe Harsh Life in Remote Labor Camp". wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  18. ^ "Timeline of Trevor Reed's detention in Russia and release". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  19. ^ Yilek, Caitlin (17 August 2023). "U.S. businessman serving sentence for bribery in Russia now arrested for "espionage"". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  20. ^ "This American teacher also sits in a Russian jail, worried nobody cares". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  21. ^ "Drug smuggling case of former U.S. embassy employee Fogel sent to court - Russian Interior Ministry". Interfax. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  22. ^ Lebedev, Filipp (2022-12-09). "U.S. citizen Sarah Krivanek deported from Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  23. ^ Klemack, John Cádiz. "California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  24. ^ "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  25. ^ Kofsky, Jared (3 August 2022). "Houston-area man detained in Russia for months due to 'political purposes,' Rep. Kevin Brady says". abc13.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  26. ^ "Americans left behind". 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  27. ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg64npg33r3o.amp
  28. ^ Williams, Abigail (12 June 2023). "State Department investigating Case of Detained American in Russia". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  29. ^ Ivan Nechepurenko (19 October 2023). "Russia Detains a U.S. Journalist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Wikidata Q123128637. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  30. ^ "Russia jails U.S. dual citizen for three-and-a-half years for 'rehabilitating Nazism'". 9 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  31. ^ Koenig, Melissa; Guzman, Alyssa (9 January 2024). "Russia detains US citizen on drugs charges — which can carry 20 years in prison". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  32. ^ Land, Olivia; Vincent, Isabel (20 February 2024). "California amateur ballerina detained in Russia on suspicion of treason, faces life in prison for donating $51 to Ukraine: report". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  33. ^ McEntyre, Nicholas (18 June 2024). "US soldier Gordon Black 'lured' to Russia learns his fate after he stole, threatened to kill his girlfriend he met in South Korea". nypost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  34. ^ "Russian court sentences 72-year-old American for fighting for Ukraine". theguardian.com. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  35. ^ Roush, Ty. "Who Is Travis Timmerman? Man Found In Syria After Monthslong Imprisonment Claims To Be Missing American". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  36. ^ "The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike". The longest-serving overseas American prisoner goes on hunger strike. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  37. ^ "A/HRC/WGAD/2022/76" (PDF).
  38. ^ a b "Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
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