White House: Russia frees imprisoned US citizen
Moscow has freed a former employee of the US embassy who was convicted on drug charges, a move made after discussions with Washington, according to the White House. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Marc Fogel, a former US embassy employee, has been released following negotiations involving advisors to President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Tuesday. Fogel, who is also a former schoolteacher, had been sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2022 due to drug trafficking charges.
On Tuesday morning, various outlets reported that a private jet owned by US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had entered Russian airspace and landed in Moscow. The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracey, was subsequently seen at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by RIA Novosti.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,” stated US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who noted that Trump, Witkoff, and other presidential advisors worked on securing Fogel’s release as part of “an exchange.”
Moscow has yet to comment on the situation. Fogel’s lawyer in Russia confirmed to TASS that he had been released, though details remain unclear. The lawyer mentioned that the former diplomat had boarded a plane and was expected to reach out to his legal team in Russia upon arriving in the US.
Waltz described Fogel’s release as a “show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the … war in Ukraine.”
Fogel had previously worked at an Anglo-American school in Moscow and held a position at the US embassy there. He lost his diplomatic immunity in May 2021. In August of that year, he was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow while in possession of marijuana and hashish oil, which were allegedly well concealed in his personal belongings, according to TASS.
Russian authorities accused Fogel of trying to set up a drug trafficking route into the country, leading to his 14-year prison sentence.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Tuesday morning, various outlets reported that a private jet owned by US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had entered Russian airspace and landed in Moscow. The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracey, was subsequently seen at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by RIA Novosti.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,” stated US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who noted that Trump, Witkoff, and other presidential advisors worked on securing Fogel’s release as part of “an exchange.”
Moscow has yet to comment on the situation. Fogel’s lawyer in Russia confirmed to TASS that he had been released, though details remain unclear. The lawyer mentioned that the former diplomat had boarded a plane and was expected to reach out to his legal team in Russia upon arriving in the US.
Waltz described Fogel’s release as a “show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the … war in Ukraine.”
Fogel had previously worked at an Anglo-American school in Moscow and held a position at the US embassy there. He lost his diplomatic immunity in May 2021. In August of that year, he was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow while in possession of marijuana and hashish oil, which were allegedly well concealed in his personal belongings, according to TASS.
Russian authorities accused Fogel of trying to set up a drug trafficking route into the country, leading to his 14-year prison sentence.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
