Marc Fogel, a former schoolteacher, had been sentenced to 14 years behind bars in Russia on drug trafficking charges
Russia has released US national Marc Fogel following negotiations with advisors of President Donald Trump’s, the White House announced on Tuesday. Fogel, a former schoolteacher and US diplomat, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2021 on drug trafficking charges.
“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,” the US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said in a statement, adding that Trump, Witkoff and some other presidential advisors negotiated his release as part of “an exchange.”
It is unclear who Fogel might have been exchanged for. Moscow has not commented on the development so far.
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