by Joe
2.5-minute read
American teacher Marc Fogel, who had been imprisoned in Russia since his arrest on drug charges in 2021, was released on Tuesday, the White House announced. Fogel, 63, had been serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian prison colony before his case was classified as a wrongful detention by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October 2024, as confirmed by the State Department to ABC News.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz highlighted the significance of Fogel's release, noting that it was the result of negotiations led by President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the President's advisors. "This exchange demonstrates a gesture of goodwill from the Russians and signals progress toward resolving the devastating conflict in Ukraine," Waltz said.
According to a White House official, Fogel arrived on U.S. soil around 9:30 p.m. and was en route to the White House. President Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office earlier in the day, confirmed that Fogel would arrive at the White House by 10 p.m. When questioned about whether the U.S. had offered anything in return for Fogel's release, Trump downplayed the exchange, stating, “Not much, no. They were very cooperative. We were treated well by Russia, actually.”
Trump also emphasized the broader implications of the negotiation, expressing hope that this development could pave the way for ending the Russia-Ukraine war. “I hope this marks the start of a relationship where we can bring an end to the conflict and prevent further loss of life,” he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment in a separate statement, acknowledging Fogel's release while drawing attention to other Americans still detained in Russia. “Marc’s return is a positive step, but it also serves as a reminder that there are more U.S. citizens who need to be brought home. President Trump remains dedicated to securing their freedom,” Rubio said.
Dmitry Ovsyannikov, the attorney representing Marc Fogel, informed ABC News that his client had been released and departed Russia earlier on Tuesday. Fogel was able to make a brief call to his family just before his departure, according to his lawyer.
Last week, Fogel was moved from the prison colony where he had been detained and taken to Moscow, Ovsyannikov stated. However, his legal team was not notified by Russian authorities about the details of his exchange and remains unaware of who was involved in the swap.
Fogel, a teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow—a school attended by children of U.S. Embassy personnel—was arrested in August 2021 upon arriving at a Moscow airport. Authorities alleged he was carrying 11 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of hash oil in his luggage.
A Pennsylvania native and father of two, Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug smuggling charges, which his family has consistently claimed were fabricated. The U.S. government had repeatedly called for his release on humanitarian grounds.
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