LDS volunteers released after being detained in Russia for three weeks

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says two of its missionaries have returned home to the U.S. after they were detained in Russia for more than two weeks for alleged visa term violations.

Church spokesman Eric Hawkins said Wednesday in a statement the men were treated well in detention.

The 20-year-old Kole Brodowski and 19-year-old David Gaag were detained on March 1 in Novorossiisk, a Black Sea city.

A Russian court ordered their deportation after they were accused of working as English teachers without proper credentials.

Latter-day Saint missionaries are not allowed to legally proselytize in Russia and are called “volunteers.”