Russia Cuts Prison Time for American Robert Woodland After Drug Conviction

Robert Woodland, an American citizen who has been serving time in Russia on drug trafficking charges, just had his sentence reduced by three years, according to his lawyer. Originally handed a 12.5-year sentence, he’ll now be spending 9.5 years behind bars. The Russian court gave no public explanation for this unexpected clemency, keeping everyone—including the U.S. State Department—guessing about what sparked the change.

Woodland’s case has been tangled from the start. He was convicted last July after being caught with 50 grams of mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant. Prosecutors say he was attempting to sell it, while Woodland has reportedly partially admitted guilt. The U.S. government has yet to weigh in on the new development.

Woodland’s story is a complicated one. Born in Russia in 1991 and adopted by Americans at age 2, he returned to his birth country at 26, hoping to reconnect with his biological mother. Whatever journey he imagined, it’s safe to say it didn’t include a Russian prison cell.

The U.S. State Department has stated its top priority is the safety of American citizens abroad, but so far, there’s been little movement on Woodland’s behalf. He remains in Russian custody, even as other high-profile American detainees have seen their fortunes change.

Recently, Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballerina detained for over a year, was released in a prisoner swap after being convicted of treason for sending $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity—yes, the price of a fancy dinner in Manhattan landed her 12 years in a Russian penal colony. Meanwhile, American history teacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021, made it back to the U.S. earlier this year.

Despite these recent releases, Woodland’s fate hasn’t shifted much, aside from the shorter sentence. For now, he’ll keep waiting—and so will everyone else following his case.