Who is Marc Fogel? American teacher released from Russian prison

An American schoolteacher held in Russia for over three years has been released, the White House said Tuesday. Marc Fogel, who was arrested for having medical marijuana in 2021, is expected to be back on American soil at the end of the day.

His release comes as part of the negotiations between America and Russia to ensure a cessation of the war in Ukraine, the White House said. Fogel left Russia with President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

Fogel, 63, was sentenced by 2022 to a 14-year judgment in a Russian penalty colony after being convicted of drug smuggling.

Here’s what to know about Fogel and his arrest in Russia:

Who is Marc Fogel?

Fogel grew up in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and continued to teach historical courses at international schools attended by children of US diplomats. The work brought Fogel and his family across the globe. He had teaching positions in Colombia, Malaysia, Oman, Venezuela and Russia.

From 2012, Marc Fogel and his wife, Jane, taught at the Anglo-American school in Moscow. In the summer of 2021 Fogel told his wife that he would retire after one year more teaching in the Russian capital, According to the Washington Post. It was by their return to Moscow from a summer vacation that Fogel was detained.

Why was Marc Fogel arrested?

On August 14, 2021, Fogel was taken into custody in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on a cannabis possession. Fogel and his family have said that cannabis was used to treat his chronic back pain.

His case has drawn comparisons with WNBA All-Star Brittney laughs, arrested in February 2022 at a Russian airport for possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years at a work camp. In December of that year, she was released in a prisoner exchange.

Fogel was declared unlawfully detained by the state department under former President Joe Biden in December. Fogel’s family and legislators who requested to release Fogel from Russian custody was frustrated that he was not considered unlawfully withheld before.

“I don’t think it (the Bid) -Administration has helped us a bit,” Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel, told CBS Pittsburgh in July 2024.

Effort to bring fogel home

Fogel’s family requested the US government to free the long -time teacher and was critical of the Biden administration and the state department’s response in recent years.

Malphine Fogel brought a lawsuit against the then Secretary of State Antony Blink and the US State Department in July so as not to appoint Fogel as unlawfully withheld, Reported Local TV Station WTAE.

The efforts to free Fogel were also taken up by legislators, especially Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly. Kelly and a group of Bipartisan lawmakers in December 2023 wrote a letter to the flash that called on the government to classify Fogel as unlawfully detained and said he met at least six of the 11 established criteria for the classification.

Kelly and Pennsylvania representatives Chris Deluzio and Brendan Boyle also introduced Marc Fogel Actwhich would have demanded that the Ministry of State submit documents and communication to Congress on how it decides whether a US citizen is kept wrongfully.

Fogel -family ‘relieved’ after news of release

“We are very grateful, relieved and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband and son, Marc Fogel, finally come home,” the Fogel family said in a statement to Reuters.

“This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today we start to heal,” the family said.

What has the Trump administration said about Fogel’s arrest?

In a statement announcing Fogel’s release, the National Security Advisor of the White House said Michael Waltz in Ukraine. “

“Tonight Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunite with his family and dear thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” Waltz said on Tuesday.

Malphine Fogel told New York Post In July 2024, then -Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to bring her son home when they spoke just before Trump took the stage at a demonstration in Butler, Pennsylvania and was wounded in a murder attempt.

Malphine Fogel was set to take the scene with Trump before shots ranged that day she told CBS NEWS.

Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA Today; Reuters

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Who is Marc Fogel? American teacher released from Russian prison

Who is Marc Fogel?

Why was Marc Fogel arrested?

Effort to bring fogel home

Fogel -family ‘relieved’ after news of release

What has the Trump administration said about Fogel’s arrest?

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Who is Marc Fogel? American teacher released from Russian prison

Who is Marc Fogel?

Why was Marc Fogel arrested?

Effort to bring fogel home

Fogel -family ‘relieved’ after news of release

What has the Trump administration said about Fogel’s arrest?

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