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Marc Fogel, an American history teacher detained in Russia since August 2021 for carrying medically prescribed marijuana, has been freed and is on his way back to the United States, the White House announced last Tuesday.
Fogel, 63, was serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted in 2022 for attempting to bring a small amount of marijuana into Russia for his chronic back pain. His detention had been classified as wrongful by the previous U.S. administration, but efforts to secure his release had stalled until now.
His return was facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign affairs envoy, Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate executive who has played a behind-the-scenes role in high-stakes negotiations. Fogel departed Russian airspace aboard Witkoff’s private aircraft early Tuesday and is expected to reunite with his family in Pennsylvania by the end of the day.
Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, confirmed that Fogel’s release came as part of a negotiated exchange with Russia. However, he declined to provide specifics on what the U.S. offered in return. The U.S. has historically released Russian nationals in such deals, though no details were immediately available.
“This was a demonstration of good faith from the Russians and a sign that we are moving in the right direction toward ending the brutal war in Ukraine,” Waltz said. The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, pledging to secure an agreement within the first 100 days of his administration.
Fogel’s release marks the latest in a series of diplomatic efforts under Trump to bring detained Americans home. Earlier this year, the administration also secured the release of six U.S. citizens from Venezuela.
Online flight trackers showed Witkoff’s private jet in Moscow, signaling his involvement in the deal. His visit marked the highest-level known U.S. trip to Russia since former CIA Director William Burns traveled to Moscow in late 2021 in an unsuccessful bid to prevent the Ukraine war.
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