Daughter Appeals to Trump for Release of Father Jailed in Russia

Anastasia Antonov calls herself a proud U.S. citizen. She believes Russian authorities arrested her father, Aleksandr, last year and sentenced him to six years in prison because he holds American citizenship. Now she has appealed directly to President Trump to press Russian President Vladimir Putin's government to free him.

Anastasia and her mother wrote a letter to Trump and shared it with CBS News. In it, she said she felt it was time to bring her father's imprisonment to the president's attention. That move signals her frustration with the State Department's slow pace.

Aleksandr Antonov, 66, is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He immigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1990s but made business trips back to Ukraine and Russia. On March 5, 2025, Russian border officers checked his passport and found his U.S. one. They also alleged his phone held Telegram messages with anti-Russian sentiment. A court later convicted him on charges tied to inciting terrorism and extremism.

CBS News learned from one current and two former U.S. officials that the State Department is debating whether to label Antonov wrongfully detained. That status would signal the U.S. views the charges as fabricated.

Officials CBS News contacted said Antonov's case underwent review. Several recommended in a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's top counselor that Antonov qualified as wrongly detained.

But that push clashed with other State Department diplomats. They worried about disrupting ongoing, though fruitless, U.S.-Russia talks on the Ukraine war. Two officials familiar with the case told CBS News the chief barrier to the designation is fear of worsening tensions with Russia.

The wrongfully detained label is discretionary. Secretary Rubio holds final say.

Roger Carstens, former special presidential envoy for hostage affairs and a CBS News contributor, said split memos like this complicate things. A regional bureau's disagreement can hinder efforts to sway a secretary of state, even when legal, consular or hostage teams see clear evidence. Carstens said he left office before Antonov's case arose, so he could not confirm details here.

Even with the State Department's hesitation under Rubio, a former senior official briefed on hostage advocacy told CBS News that U.S. officials assured the family Russia cases are a priority. They said Antonov is on the list handed to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff for discussions with Putin adviser Kiril Dmitriev. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, joins those talks.

Paul Whelan, a former hostage freed in a 2024 prisoner swap with Russia, told CBS News the stalled progress might stem from Putin rejecting U.S. offers right now. He said the Trump administration also hesitates to spend political capital.

None of the at least six Americans held by Russia have received the wrongfully detained designation from the Trump administration. That step would let the special envoy for hostage affairs push harder. It also requires the government to offer families mental health support, fund two annual Washington advocacy trips and aid the detainee's return.

Stephan Hubbard, a retired teacher jailed in Russia, got the label at the end of the Biden administration.

Families like the Antonovs keep seeking attention. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner publicly urged Rubio to designate imprisoned U.S. Navy veteran Chuck Zimmerman as wrongfully detained by Russia.

A Trump administration official responded to CBS News questions about the letter to Trump and detained Americans in Russia diplomacy. The official emailed a statement: "President Trump has made it a priority to bring home all Americans wrongfully and unjustly detained overseas. The State Department is closely tracking Aleksandr Antonov's detention and is working diligently to secure his release, along with all Americans wrongfully and unjustly detained in Russia. Due to privacy considerations, the Department cannot comment on the specifics of his case at this time."

The State Department emailed CBS News that it closely tracks Aleksandr Antonov and Chuck Zimmerman's detentions. It stays in regular touch with their families and keeps pressing for consular access in both cases.

Anastasia and her mother gave their letter to Trump's adviser Sebastian Gorka last Tuesday. That came after Gorka received an honor at the Foley Foundation's Freedom Awards dinner. Deputy Envoy for Hostage Affairs Dustin Stewart joined him there for work freeing American hostages, a goal they called one of Trump's top priorities. Trump claims credit for returning 106 Americans from abroad. This reporter emceed the event, and the Antonov family approached for help.