American Educator Released from Russian Detention, Meets Trump
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Synopsis
Marc Fogel, a history teacher from the US wrongfully detained in Russia, has returned home. His release is seen as a diplomatic victory that may influence US-Russian relations amid ongoing negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Marc Fogel was wrongfully detained in Russia since 2021.
- His return is viewed as a significant diplomatic achievement.
- Fogel expressed gratitude to Trump for his release.
- Ongoing negotiations may be influenced by this event.
- Several other Americans still remain imprisoned in Russia.
Washington, Feb 12 (NationPress) Marc Fogel, an American history educator who was considered wrongfully detained by Russia, has been freed and returned to the United States in what the White House is calling a diplomatic achievement that could enhance relations with Moscow and facilitate negotiations aimed at concluding the war in Ukraine.
Fogel, aged 61, was accompanied out of Russia by Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for US President Donald Trump, and received a warm welcome at the White House upon his arrival.
Standing alongside Trump, Fogel expressed immense gratitude. "I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now," he stated. "Thank you all. I love our country, and I am thrilled to be back."
Originally from Pennsylvania, Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and sentenced to 14 years in prison for possessing medically prescribed marijuana. His family and advocates have long claimed that his incarceration was unjust.
The Biden administration officially classified him as wrongfully detained in December 2024, yet he had previously been excluded from US-Russia prisoner swaps.
Fogel voiced his appreciation, stating he would be "forever indebted" to Trump for his release. He also complimented Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to him as "very generous and statesmanlike in granting a pardon."
Discussing the deal's terms, Trump remarked, "It was very fair, very, very fair, very reasonable. Not like deals you've seen over the years."
Trump also hinted at the potential release of another American, without revealing the individual's identity or the country involved. "It will be someone very special," he mentioned.
On X, Trump shared a post referencing a promise he made during a campaign rally. "When I saw (Marc Fogel's) mother at a rally, she asked, 'If you win, will you get my son out?' I assured her -- she's 95 years old -- and I said, 'We'll get him out,' and we got him out pretty swiftly."
The White House celebrated Fogel's return with a social media message stating, "Marc Fogel is back! Promises made, promises kept!"
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also welcomed the news, posting, "He's home!"
Waltz confirmed that the US and Russia negotiated an exchange for Fogel's release but did not reveal what the US offered in return.
"This is a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine," he added.
Fogel had devoted nearly a decade to teaching at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, where he taught children of US diplomats.
His family had consistently urged the Biden administration to prioritize his case, yet he was excluded from high-profile prisoner exchanges in 2022 and 2024, which secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan.
Despite this breakthrough in Fogel's situation, several other Americans remain incarcerated in Russia. This includes US-Russian dual national Ksenia Khavana, sentenced to 12 years for treason after making a $52 donation to a Ukrainian aid charity.
Last October, American Robert Gilman was sentenced to over seven years for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers, while American Stephen Hubbard was convicted in a closed trial for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
