BBC News, Washington DC
Anne vogelAmerican school teacher and former diplomat Mark Vogel landed in the US after being released from prison in Russia.
A 63-year-old man landed in a joint base of Andrews near Washington at the end of Tuesday. He should later meet with President Donald Trump at the White House.
The release of Do Fohel was agreed as part of the exchange with Russia, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz before Tuesday, not giving additional details.
Russia did not commented on its release. Meanwhile, Mr. Fogel’s sister told the BBC about her “great relief” under his freedom.
“I plan to note the next 24 hours,” said Anne Vogel. “We’re so happy.”
She said her brother, who was stuck in Russia in 2021, was postponed last Wednesday from a punishment in Rybinsk. She said the family knew that his release was an opportunity, but “these negotiations are very minor”.
After landing on the American soil, the White House posted on X: “Promises are made, the promises are preserved!” Along with the image of Mr. Fogel.
In a statement obtained by CBS News, a BBC news partner, his wife Jane and Sons and Sam, said, “It was the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today we are starting to heal.”
Mr -n Vogel was arrested at the airport for illegal cannabis storage in 2021.
He was accused of carrying out a small amount of medical marijuana, which was appointed in the United States and was carried out by a 14-year prison term.
Mr. Fogel’s legal team thanked Trump for his role in the negotiations and criticized what they called the “bureaucratic inaction” of Baden’s previous administration.
“President Trump has secured Mark’s release in just a few weeks, without spending time to take decisive measures to bring Mark home,” the statement from his lawyers, also sent to the CBS said.
Mr. Vogel was not classified by the US government as illegally detained until December 2024, despite the start of the sentence in 2022.
His family tried to push former President Joe Biden to ensure his release, and remained disappointed when he was left on the beaning of prisoners in 2022 and 2024.
Courtesy Anne vogelUS basketball star Britney Grinner, arrested in Russia on a similar allegation of cannabis storage in 2022, was Released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Victor 10 months later.
Subsequently Biden Administration provided the release of three more Americans last year as part of the largest exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West after the Cold War. The Americans released the reporter of Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich, US Marine Veteran Paul Wilan and Russian-American Radio Olsu Kurmashev.
Anne vogel said BBC At the time of the feeling of “betrayal” when she learned that her brother was not included in the in exchange of prisoners – which Biden boasted as a “feat of diplomacy”.
Mr. Vogel from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow. Previously, he worked as a diplomat at the US Embassy.
Being in prison, he was reportedly taught by English to his colleagues -fired.
It is unclear when the US has released anyone in return for Mr. Fogel.
Mr. Vogel returned to the United States with Steve Witco, special envoy of President Donald Trump in the Middle East.
The Vitcof’s trip to Russia is the first high -ranking US official in a number of years. Most of the contacts between the peoples were stopped after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gets the imageThe National Security Advisor Wals said the release of Mr. Fogel is “to show the good faith of the Russians, and the sign we are moving in the right direction to stop the fierce and terrible war in Ukraine.” He did not submit additional details.
On Tuesday, President Trump announced that Finance Minister Scott Baby will go to Ukraine later this week.
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to stop the war in Ukraine for 24 hours.
But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said: “They (Ukraine) may conclude a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian if -either, or if they can’t be Russian.”
Asked by the BBC’s question about the connection between the liberation and the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Vogel said: “These are gigantic frauds of world politics.
“It will be interesting to look at it and see how it all fits in and … how the story is played.”
