ISTANBUL

The Kremlin on Wednesday confirmed a prisoner exchange between Russia and the US, with American detainee Marc Fogel released in return for a Russian national jailed in the US.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exchange was a result of “intensive contacts” between Moscow and Washington.

“As we previously reported, work in this area had intensified recently through the relevant agencies, leading to the release of Fogel and one Russian citizen."

He said the Russian national would return to Russia “in the coming days,” without disclosing their identity. “Once the citizen is on Russian territory, their name will be known,” Peskov added.

Asked whether third countries were involved in facilitating the exchange, Peskov responded: “At the moment, we have nothing to report.”

Fogel’s return was welcomed and confirmed by the US administration on Tuesday. The schoolteacher was serving a 14-year sentence in Russia on drug charges.