DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: An American scholar convicted of drug charges in Russia counting down the days until his return home. John Tobin was released from prison last week, and today his father talked about his son's ordeal. Details from CNN's Steve Harrigan.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jack Tobin came to Russia to study local politics. The lesson the 24-year-old American got instead, his father says, was about life inside a Russian prison.</s>JOHN TOBIN, JACK TOBIN'S FATHER: In a sense, he's had a marvelous experience. It sounds like it's a little ridiculous to say that, but he's gotten to seen Russia from the inside now and he's got some stories to tell.</s>HARRIGAN: That story began six months ago, when the Connecticut native was arrested outside a nightclub in the city of Voronezh, charged with possession of marijuana. But it was another accusation, that Tobin was a spy-in-training, that drew international attention to the case. Tobin was never formally accused of espionage, but instead was sentenced to 37 months in jail for narcotics possession, a charge he denies. His parole comes after U.S. President George Bush raised the case during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. What he needs now, his father says, is to go home.</s>TOBIN: Physically, he's drawn, he's thin, he's pale. But hopefully a couple of weeks or more in North America with his friends and his mother and some home cooking, I think he'll be -- you know, it'll do wonders.</s>HARRIGAN: To leave the country, Tobin still needs an exit visa. Until then, he's not taking any chances, staying holed up here inside the U.S. embassy. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Moscow.
Tobin Counts Down Days Until His Return