List of American people imprisoned abroad

Last updated

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.

Contents

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

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Jeffrey Woodke14 October 201620 March 20232348Kidnapped for monetary ransom [1]
Paul Rusesabagina 31 August 202025 March 20231604Arrested on charges of terrorism, arson, kidnap and "murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians on Rwandan territory".
Ryan Koher4 November 20225 October 2023809Arrested 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 Malanga19 May 2024In detention247Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [3]
Tyler Thompson19 May 2024In detention247Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [4]
Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun19 May 2024In detention247Involvement in the 2024 DRC coup attempt [5]

Asia

Afghanistan

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Mark Frerichs 31 January 202019 September 2022962Kidnapped by the Haqqani network
Ryan Corbett10 August 202220 January 2025894

China

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Kai Li July 201827 November 2024~2341espionage [6]
Mark Swidan 13 November 201227 November 20244397Assisting the transportation and payment of technicians to manufacture methamphetamine [7]
David Lin200616 September 20245844contract fraud and sentenced to life in prison [8]

Iran

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionNotesRef.
Robert Levinson 9 March 2007Deceased while in detention [9]
Emad Shargi 30 November 202018 September 20231513Espionage/SpyingSentenced to 10 years in January 2021.
Had previously been cleared in December 2019		 [10] [11]
Morad Tahbaz January 201818 September 2023~2577 [12]
Baquer Namazi 22 February 20165 October 20223256Espionage/Spying [13]
Siamak Namazi 13 October 201518 September 20233386 [14]
Shahab Dalili2016In detention~3288"Aiding and abetting" the U.S. [15]

North Korea

Russia

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
James Vincent Wilgus7 November 2016In detention2997indecent exposure [16]
Thomas Stwalley6 July 2018In detention2391intent to distribute marijuana [17]
Paul Whelan 28 December 2018 1 August 2024 2043espionage
Trevor Reed 16 August 201927 April 2022985violence against an officer [18]
Eugene Spector19 February 2020In detention1798bribery and espionage [19]
Marc Fogel 15 August 2021In detention1255marijuana possession [20] [21]
Sarah Krivanek15 December 2021 8 December 2022 358domestic dispute [22] [23]
Andre Khachatoorian27 December 2021In detention1121illegal possession of a firearm [24]
David Barnes13 January 2022In detention1104child abuse (custody dispute) [25]
Robert Gilman17 January 2022In detention1100assault of a police officer [26]
Brittney Griner 17 February 2022 8 December 2022 294possession of hashish oil
Evan Gershkovich 29 March 2023 1 August 2024 491espionage [27]
Michael Travis Leake6 June 2023In detention595intent to distribute drugs [28]
Alsu Kurmasheva 18 October 2023 1 August 2024 288failure to register as a foreign agent [29]
Yuri Malev8 December 2023In detention410rehabilitation of Nazism [30]
Robert Woodland5 January 2024In detention382intent to distribute drugs [31]
Ksenia Karelina 27 January 2024In detention360suspicion of treason [32]
Gordon Black2 May 2024In detention264theft and making threats [33]
Steven Hubbard2 April 2022In detention1025fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine [34]

Syria

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Austin Tice 13 August 2012In detention4544
Majd Kamalmaz 15 February 2017Deceased while in detention
Travis Pete Timmerman5 June 2024 8 December 2024 186Illegal entry into country [35]

United Arab Emirates

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionUnited NationsRef.
Zack ShahinMarch 2008In detention~6170Accused of bribery and embezzlementDesignated 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

Venezuela

NameDetainedReleasedDays in detentionReason for detentionRef.
Eyvin Hernandez 29 March 2022December 21 20231029Illegal Entry into the Country
Matthew John Heath September 2020October 1 2022~1603Terrorism and Arms Trafficking
Airan BerryMay 2020December 21 2023~1726Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [38]
Luke DenmanMay 2020December 21 2023~1726Took part in a Beach landing to overthrow the government [38]
Gustavo Cárdenas21 November 2017March 9 20221569Arrested for corruption charges and detained among the Citgo Six
Tomeu Vadell21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jorge Toledo21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Alirio Zambrano21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jose Luis Zambrano21 November 2017October 1 20221775
Jose Angel Pereira21 November 2017October 1 20221775

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References

  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. ↑ "Update as of October 4, 2024 on Ryan Koher".
  3. ↑ Malkia, Christina; Donati, Jessica; Schoenbaum, Hannah (7 June 2024). "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 (7 June 2024). "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 (7 June 2024). "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 (25 June 2020). "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. ↑ Goldman, Adam (25 March 2020). "Ex-F.B.I. Agent Who Vanished on C.I.A. Mission to Iran is Most Likely Dead, U.S. Concludes". The New York Times.
  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. 5 April 2022. 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 (9 December 2022). "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. ↑ "US journalist Evan Gershkovich jailed for 16 years in Russia". 19 July 2024.
  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. 1 2 "Family of Texas Green Beret jailed still awaits son's return". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
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