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American teacher Marc Fogel has been released from Russian custody after more than three years of detention. The White House announced on Tuesday (February 11) that Fogel, who hails from Pennsylvania, was on his way back to the United States with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump. Fogel is expected to reunite with his family by the end of the day.
Fogel was arrested in August 2021 in Moscow for possessing medically prescribed marijuana and was serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian penal colony. His release was part of a negotiated exchange between the U.S. and Russia, though details of the U.S. side of the agreement have not been disclosed. Previous negotiations have sometimes involved reciprocal releases of Russians held by the U.S. or its allies.
Mike Waltz, President Trump's national security adviser, described the release as a positive step toward ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Trump administration has been actively working on a plan to resolve the war, with President Trump suggesting potential discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fogel's case was previously determined by the State Department to be a wrongful detention during the Biden administration. His release is seen as a gesture of goodwill from Russia and a hopeful sign for future diplomatic progress.