World Courant
The American Marc Fogel, who had been held in Russia since he was arrested for drug functions in 2021, was launched on Tuesday, in keeping with the White Home.
Fogel, 63, served a 14-year jail sentence in a Russian jail colony. Former State Secretary Antony Blinken mentioned that in October 2024 the American trainer was “wrongly held”, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs confirmed to ABC Information.
An official of the White Home confirmed with ABC Information that Fogel landed on the American soil at round 9.30 pm and arrived within the White Home shortly after 10 p.m.
Trump greeted Fogel and welcomed him again to the USA.
The American trainer Marc Fogel, who had been held in Russia since 2021, lands again on the American soil on 11 February 2025.
Commanded by the White Home
Mike Waltz, the nationwide safety adviser of the White Home, mentioned in a press release on Tuesday afternoon that President Donald Trump had negotiated an alternate that serves as a token of excellent religion of the Russians and an indication that we’re moving into the correct route to make it Termination of brutal and horrible struggle in Ukraine.
In a briefing from the Oval Workplace, the president additionally repeated the necessity to put an finish to the struggle in Russia-Ukraine and mentioned: “I hope that is the beginning of a relationship the place we are able to finish that struggle and tens of millions of individuals can cease killed. “
Marc Fogel (L) will likely be despatched again to the US on 11 February 2025.
Anne Fogel
Trump was requested on Tuesday afternoon if Russia gave the USA one thing in alternate for the discharge of Fogel, and he replied: “Not a lot, no. They have been very good. We have been really handled very properly by Russia.”
State Secretary Marco Rubio mentioned on Tuesday in a press release: “The discharge of Marc can be a reminder that different Americans are nonetheless being held in Russia. President Trump is dedicated to convey all of them residence.”
On this July 15, 2023 Rally Photograph, Lisa Hyland, Left, and different members of the family who’re collect outdoors the White Home in Washington, DC for the discharge of Marc Fogel, which has been held in Russia since August 2021.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP, File
Dmitry Ovsyannikov, Fogel’s lawyer, confirmed to ABC Information that Fogel was liberated and Russia had left early on Tuesday.
Fogel was taken from the jail colony the place he was held and arrived in Moscow final week, his lawyer mentioned.
His protection group was not knowledgeable by the safety forces about his alternate and doesn’t know for whom he was exchanged, mentioned Ovsyannikov.
Adam Boehler, presidential envoy for hostages, wouldn’t point out what the USA gave in alternate for Fogel whereas talking with CNN on Tuesday night, however he indicated that there will likely be a continuing dialog between the US and Russia.
“You’ll not see an alternate,” he mentioned. “I feel you will note the president contemplating and there are some non-violent individuals, the place there could also be no issues in a method or one other, however you’ll not see one-for-one factor occurring on the identical time.”
Marc Fogel is proven on the finish of his trial on the Russian court docket in Moscow in 2022.
Irina Pigman
Fogel was a trainer on the Anglo-American faculty in Moscow, the place many diplomats from the American embassy despatched their youngsters.
The daddy of two was arrested in August 2021 when he landed at an airport of Moscow. He was accused of bringing in 11 grams of marijuana and allegedly eight gram of Hasholie was present in his baggage.
The resident of Pennsylvania was sentenced to 14 years for a drug smuggling that his household mentioned it was surpassed, and the US had referred to as for his humanitarian launch.
The US tried it however was unable to incorporate Fogel within the huge prisoner -wap in August 2024 that Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former American Navy Paul Whelan freed, mentioned a spokesperson for the Ministry of Overseas Affairs final yr .
On this July 15, 2023, file picture, a drawn portrait of Marc Fogel, which has been held in Russia since August 2021, hangs on rails outdoors the White Home throughout an indication organized by his household, in Washington, DC, DC
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP, File
What Fogel instructed Mom within the first cellphone name
Fogel succeeded in calling his household shortly earlier than he left Russia, his lawyer mentioned.
His mom, Malphine Fogel, mentioned ABC Information Stay that her son unexpectedly referred to as her from Moscow airport whereas ready on his aircraft to DC and referred to as it a ‘lovely shock’.
“It is nonetheless unreal. We have been ready for this time for a very long time,” she mentioned. “And when the information got here, it was unimaginable. We simply cannot wait to see Marc personally. And till we do this, I feel it will not actually be.”
She mentioned he was cheerful and “could not be happier” to get residence.
“We saved hoping, nevertheless it appeared to get additional and additional away. And we simply prayed quite a bit,” she mentioned. “My complete household prayed out. We simply could not be extra grateful.”
His sister, Anne Fogel, mentioned they’re planning to satisfy one another in Pittsburgh after he has acquired post-insulation help in San Antonio, Texas.
“He’s so able to be residence,” she mentioned, referred to as her brother “resilient.”
In anticipation of Fogel’s arrival on a joint andrews on Tuesday night, Rubio gave an interview with CNN wherein Fogel’s present state of well being mentioned and mentioned: “In fact he has been in jail for 3 years. That’s by no means good for anybody. However he appears to be too are in good well being.
On this undated file picture is launched by his sister, Marc Fogel is proven.
Anne Fogel
Elected officers in Pennsylvania celebrated the discharge of Fogel.
“After greater than 3 years in Russian imprisonment, I joined his household, our federal companions and all his colleague Pennsylvanians within the welcome of Marc Fogel Residence – precisely the place he belongs,” wrote Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in a message about X whereas because of the White Home “who made his launch potential.”
Senator John Fetterman praised Trump and Witkoff for his or her ‘efforts to lastly convey Marc residence’. Senator Dave McCormick mentioned that with the administration he’s engaged on this “since day one” and mentioned that he was grateful to Trump and State Secretary Marco Rubio for delivering their dedication to Free Marc. “
“Like I instructed Marc’s mom, Mafa, once we spoke in August, we needed to do every little thing potential to get Marc at residence and it’s a blessing that at the present time lastly got here,” mentioned McCormick.
ABC Information’ Tanya Mukalova has contributed to this report.
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Marc Fogel greeted by Trump within the White Home after he was liberated from Russia
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