Russia has released an American prisoner ahead of talks with the U.S., reports the New York Times

Russia announced on Monday the release of a U.S. citizen who had been held on charges related to the possession of a small quantity of marijuana. This decision comes ahead of discussions between Russian and U.S. officials scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the New York Times.

Kalob Byers Wayne, 28, was apprehended at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport during a baggage inspection on February 7, when customs officials discovered cannabis-infused marmalade in his luggage.

According to the Kremlin’s spokesperson, the talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday are intended to facilitate the restoration of relations between Moscow and Washington, suggesting that certain events should be interpreted within this framework, as noted by the Times.