Russia has finally released American prisoner Marc Fogel after President Donald Trump’s envoy traveled to meet with Moscow officials to secure his return home.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Fogel, an American teacher who was detained by Russian authorities, is now on his way back to the United States.
The president had sent Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to negotiate Fogel’s release.
In a statement, Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz said:
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia.
“President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.”
Fogel was detained in Russia in 2021 and sentenced to 14 years behind bars for possessing marijuana at an airport.
He is now traveling back home with Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.
“By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” Waltz said.
Waltz did not say what the exchange consisted of.
Fogel was detained in Russia in 2021.
He was sentenced to 14 years behind bars for possessing marijuana at an airport.
His family has said it was for medical reasons.
However, Fogul’s case was largely ignored by former President Joe Biden’s administration.
It was not until October 2024, shortly before the presidential election, that Fogel was designated by the United States as wrongfully detained.
In October, in a statement referring to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said:
“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time.
“We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to.
“The secretary determined Marc is wrongfully detained in October.”
Fogel’s case was in stark contrast to that of “woke” WNBA player Brittney Griner.
Griner was also imprisoned for attempting to leave the country with marijuana in her luggage.
However, the Biden admin fought for her release and exchanged Griner for a dangerous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, aka the “Merchant of Death.”
In August, the United States helped broker and was part of a prisoner exchange that included Russia, Germany, and other countries.
This resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan.
Since Trump took office, the United States has managed to get back several Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
READ MORE – Russian Military Blows Whistle on Bill Gates’ ‘Bioterrorism’ Plot to ‘Reduce Population’
