Taliban Frees American Citizen Detained in Afghanistan for Years, Rubio Announces

George Glezmann is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January.

George Glezmann (C) poses with Adam Boehler (2nd L) and Zalmay Khalilzad (2nd R) and Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 20, 2025, before departing to Doha, Qatar. Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP

The Taliban has freed a U.S. citizen, George Glezmann, after holding him in Afghanistan for years, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 20.

“George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he’s on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra,” Rubio wrote in a statement posted on social media platform X.