The American teacher that Russia held for three and a half years due to a minor medical marijuana violation was back in US soil after being released during the day Tuesday night, officials said Ta.
Mark Vogel, 63, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, shook hands with President Donald Trump in light snow outside the White House after returning to safety with the United States.
Fogel thanked Trump and said it was “awesomeness” of all the staff who helped him secure his release. He called them heroes.
“I want you to know that this is not a hero at all,” Vogel told the White House Tuesday night. “And President Trump is a hero. These men from the service of diplomats are heroes.”
Trump called the terms of Vogel’s release “very fair.” He confirmed on Tuesday night that another American would be released while waiting to welcome Vogel, but he didn’t say who.
“Someone else has been released tomorrow, you know,” Trump said.
Fogel’s lawyer Dmitry Ovsyannikov told Russian state news agency Interfax: It was exchanged for. ”
Fogel, Pennsylvania, landed at a joint base in Andrews, Maryland just after 9pm, and said the US was “illegally detained” by Russia.
“Promise, the promise was kept!!” The White House was posted on X, with a photo showing Fogel stepping out of a plane in US soil.
Speaking to the news on Tuesday after the release was announced on Tuesday, Fogel’s mother, Malfin “Mafa” Vogel (95), said, “Don’t tell Trump, he was never a Trump supporter. He will be like that.”
According to the White House, Fogel has returned to the US special envoy to Steve Witkov, the Middle East, along with Witkov.
Fogel’s release could advance Trump’s efforts to reach a ceasefire after a three-year invasion of Russian neighbouring Ukraine, officials said.
“President Trump, Steve Witkov and his advisor negotiated a sincere show from the Russians and an exchange that serves as a sign of moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” the state said. I said to Mike Waltz, the security adviser.
It was not immediately clear what the Russians gained by releasing Fogel.
Trump told reporters Tuesday night that the release was “very fair” but did not release any details. He did not say whether he spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Vogel.
“I just want to say I’m very grateful for what they did when I brought Mark home,” Trump said.
Tuesday’s announcement concludes years of frustration spoken up by the Vogel family who have sought the White House to secure his release.
“We just wanted to bring him home,” Trump said. “I had to bring him home because I had a big problem with his mother.”
Fogel maintained Russian custody as US authorities gained freedom for other well-known American detainees, including Wall Street Journal reporters Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan and WNBA Star Brittney Griner.
Vogel’s mother said the release of those Americans “really crushed him.”
“I was worried if he’d ever met again,” she said Tuesday in Butler, Pennsylvania, along with family lawyer Sasha Phillips, who worked for his freedom pro bono.
Fogel said he needed time at the White House Tuesday night before discussing the conditions of his incarceration in detail, but they said it was difficult.
“There were times when it was trying so much, and I could manage it,” Fogel said. “Every second, every minute, there was a challenge every day.”
His mother has admitted Trump to release his son. She met Trump on July 13th before a rally in Butler. He was attacked by a gunshot, one person was killed, and two audience members were injured when federal agents said it was an attempt to assassinate him.
Malfin Vogel said he told her if Trump won the election, “I’ll leave him out.”
“He was an instrument,” she said.
Fogel’s family expressed their thanks in a statement.
“We are grateful, relieved and overwhelmed that our father, husband and son, Mark Vogel, will finally be back after more than three years of detention,” he said.
Vogel had taught in Russia before authorities would come to pick him up at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow. He was charged and sentenced to 14 years for having about 17 grams of medical marijuana.
He was prescribed medical marijuana, which was illegal in Russia due to back pain.
Phillips said the Russian judicial system usually deals with such cases by achieving probation and postponed sentences. However, she argued that the government wanted Pawn due to continued diplomatic discrepancies with the US.
“They were looking for someone to detain hostages,” she said, standing Tuesday with Fogel’s mother.
US lawmakers praised Vogel’s release.
“Great news for Mark and his family. Both our delegation and the administration worked hard to get him home,” D-Pa. Rep. Chris Delugio said in a video statement.
“That’s what you should expect as an American and that your government never leaves you with any effort to bring him home. He’s back home, Mark,” he says. Ta.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) thanked the Trump administration for his work to ensure Vogel’s freedom.
“Mark Vogel’s return has been postponed for a long time, and I know Pennsylvania, especially his whole family, will welcome him with open arms,” Fetterman said Tuesday afternoon. I mentioned it in.
R-PA. Senator Dave McCormick said he was particularly pleased with Vogel’s older mother who would eventually be able to see her son.
“I couldn’t be happy that Mark Vogel’s 95-year-old mother, Mafa, was able to hug her son tonight in Pennsylvania,” McCormick said in a statement.
Vogel’s mother was at home when the phone rang early Tuesday and other people on the line said “Buongiorno.”
Fogel was shocked by her mother’s joy as she waited for a flight to Washington at Moscow Airport.
“We didn’t know anything, so he told us not to ask questions,” she said. “He said, ‘I’m home.’ And hopefully he’ll be breathing tonight. ”
