approaching Trump-Putin summit prompts hope among family of detained American in Russia for more prisoner swaps
American Man Serving Longest Prison Sentence in Russia Remains Hopeful for Release
David Barnes, a Texas native originally from Alabama, has been detained in Moscow, Russia since January 2022. He is currently serving a 21.5-year prison sentence, making him the American serving the longest prison sentence in Russia.
Barnes was convicted by a Russian court for abusing his two sons years earlier in Texas. However, investigations by law enforcement in Montgomery County, Texas, did not find evidence to support the claims.
Barnes' family remains hopeful for his release, particularly in the context of U.S.-Russia relations. Margaret Aaron, one of David Barnes' sisters, has expressed her hopes for better relations between the two countries that would lead to Barnes' release.
Notably, the Russian prosecution is based on alleged crimes committed in the United States, not Russia. Barnes' ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, has maintained that Barnes abused their sons while they were growing up in the Texas suburbs years ago. Koptyaeva was charged with felony interference with child custody after allegedly taking the children from Texas to Russia in 2019 while a child custody dispute between her and Barnes was playing out.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas has urged President Trump and Secretary Rubio to prioritize efforts to bring Barnes home. The U.S. State Department has visited Barnes eight times since his arrest, with the last visit taking place in May 2025.
In a similar case, Ksenia Karelina, a ballerina, was released from Russia to the U.S. through a prisoner exchange four months ago. Karelina wrote a letter to Trump calling for the release of Barnes along with fellow Americans Robert Gilman and Andre Khachatoorian.
Barnes' family and friends in the U.S. will be paying close attention to the upcoming presidential summit in Anchorage, hoping for a positive outcome that could lead to Barnes' release.
[1] Margaret Aaron, one of David Barnes' sisters, hopes for better relations between the U.S. and Russia that will lead to Barnes' release. [2] David Barnes, a Texas man, is currently serving the longest prison sentence of any American in Russia. [3] The U.S. State Department has visited Barnes eight times since his arrest in January 2022, with the last visit taking place in May 2025.
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