U.S. special envoy Adam Boehler said that the U.S. government on Sunday gained the release of an American detained in Tunisia 13 months ago while doing missionary work in the North African country.

Boehler identified the detainee as Robert Vieira, whom authorities suspected of espionage.

Boehler said that Vieira was flying home to the U.S. with his family after his release, with the exact date as of Monday afternoon unclear.

"We appreciate the government of Tunisia’s decision to resolve this case and allow Mr. Vieira to reunite with his family after more than 13 months of pre-trial detention," he told Reuters, adding that he worked closely with the Tunisian foreign minister, Mohamed Ali Nafti, to gain Vieira's release.

The Trump administration previously brought back Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina and American journalist Evan Gershkovich from Russia.