AMERICAN teacher Marc Fogel has been released from a Russian prison after being jailed over trumped-up drug charges.
Fogel, 63, was arrested at an airport in 2021 for the illegal possession of a small amount of medical cannabis and slapped with a 14-year sentence.
Fogel was finally freed from captivity after a meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow today.
A heartwarming image of Fogel on board the US jet back home shows him with his passport and a drink in his hand as well as a plate full of food.
The US and Russia agreed for the history teacher’s release as part of an exchange deal.
Fogel’s delighted family – made up of wife, Jane, and sons, Ethan and Sam – were overjoyed at his release.
CBS News was informed that after more than three years in detention, Marc Fogel is finally being released. They expressed immense gratitude, relief, and being overwhelmed as they anticipate the return of their father, husband, and son.
“This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal.”
The move was announced by White House special envoy Witkoff who said they were heading back to the US with Fogel.
He has yet to confirm what Russia gained in return.
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz later confirmed the deal.
In a statement, it was mentioned, “Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff can confirm that Mr. Witkoff, together with Marc Fogel, an American citizen who was held captive by Russia, is now departing from Russian airspace.”
Through negotiations involving President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s advisors, an agreement was reached for the exchange. This exchange is viewed as a gesture of goodwill from the Russians, indicating a positive step towards resolving the devastating conflict in Ukraine.
Fogel was officially designated as “wrongfully detained” by the US in December 2024.
It came after his family spent years demonstrating for support to get him freed.
The Pittsburgh native was a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow prior to his arrest.
He had also worked as a diplomat at the US embassy in the capital.
During his time in prison, he had reportedly been teaching English to his fellow inmates.
Fogel’s family have spent the past four years pushing for his release as they pleaded with former President Joe Biden to help.
Biden managed to negotiate several US prisoner swaps with Vladimir Putin but never secured Fogel’s freedom.
In December 2022, Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in a one-for-one prisoner swap for feared international arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner was serving nine years behind bars on drug smuggling charges.
Last August, the Biden administration also secured the release of three more American prisoners – including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Gershkovich was falsely accused by the corrupt regime of Putin and sentenced to 16 years in prison after a bogus trial where he was charged with gathering “secret information” for the CIA.
Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were also released as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange.
Fogel’s legal team praised Trump’s swift help in a separate statement which read: “President Trump secured Marc’s release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home.”
