Washington – The White House announced on Tuesday that agreed on release Mark vogelAn American teacher who has been held in Russia since 2021.
White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said Steve Witcooff, Special Messenger of President Trump in the Middle East, left the Russian airspace with Vogel, who was serving a 14-year term and was Specified as “incorrectly detained” in the US at the end of last year. Waltz said he would be on Tuesday evening.
“President Trump, Steve Witcof and the Presidential Advisor agreed on an exchange that serves as a manifestation of good faith from the Russians, and the sign we are moving in the right direction to stop the tough and terrible war in Ukraine,” he said in a statement. “He successfully secured the release of Americans, detained worldwide, and President Trump will continue until all Americans in the United States have been returned.”
The White House did not have details that the United States had abandoned a deal with Russia.
Adam Boler, Trump Administration Messenger for hostages, posted a photo of Fohel in the US:
History teacher from Pennsylvania, Vogel was arrested by the Russian authorities at Moscow Airport in 2021. His family stated that he carries 17 grams of marijuana for medical reasons for the treatment of chronic back pain.
His family pushed Mr. Trump's predecessor, former President Joe Biden, to ensure the release, especially after Vogel was left out of the talks who talked the previous administration. In December 2022, Russia released WNBA Britney Gryner's star one on one prisoner swap For an international weapon dealer Victor Sights.
Then, in August last year, the Biden Administration Provided Issue With three other Americans from Russia – Reporter Wall Street Journal Evan GershkovichSea veteran Paul Wilan and a Russian-American journalist on the radio Als Kurmashov's als -In 24 people.
Apart from Fohel, this transaction lowered several other Americans who put in Russia, including musician Michael Travis NumberUS Army Sergeant Gordon Black and Russian-American ballerina Xenia Karelin.
In their statement, Fohel's family thanked Mr. Trump and other allies who fought for the release.
“We are not grateful, relieved and broken, that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband and son Mark Vogel are finally returning home,” they said. “Thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Trump, Mark will soon return to US land, for free where he belongs. It was the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today we are starting to heal.”
Martin de Luke and Andrew Smith, the legal team of Fogel, also praised the president and his administration for his work in his release.
“Mark Fogel's release is a historical, long -lasting and evidence of a strong leadership,” they said. “After many years of bureaucratic inaction, including the consistent refusal to appoint Mark as illegally detained, President Trump provided Mark's release in just a few weeks, without spending decisive measures to bring Mark home.”
Senators of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman and Dave McCormic, rejoiced in Fohel's output.
“Mark Fogel's home is long overdue – and I know that all the pension, especially his family, will welcome him back with his hands,” Democrat Fetterman, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat, Democrat wrote On X.
“I'm delighted with what Mark vogel is finally said in a message. “I work with the administration on this day from the first day, and I am grateful to President Trump and Rubio's secretary for being obliged to make free brand. How I told Mama Mafa when we performed in August, we had to do our best to Return Mark home, and this is a blessing that will finally come this day. “
Fohel's mother, malpin vogel, was criticized Biden and his administration for delay with the appointment of the son as incorrectly detained. Such a definition produced by the Secretary of State and clears the way for state departments and federal agencies to work together to develop a plan for the release of the detainee.
She filed a lawsuit Against the State Department last June, but the case was rejected. Malpin vogel was ready to attract more public attention to his son's detention During the rally July 13 With Mr Trump in Battli, Pennsylvania, but the company's event was transferred when An examination review In the crowd. The president and two more were injured and one person was killed during an attempt attempted.
“I was going to be on stage with him, and he was going to note the name (Mark),” said Molpin Vogel CBS News Pittsburgh in July last July. “We were going to put it up to hear the whole world. Well, it didn't happen because we didn't take the stage.”
She met with Mr Trump before the rally and said she promised to provide Mark Fogel's release when he was selected for a second term.