Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
Fogel, 63, was serving a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling, after being detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 with 17 grams of marijuana, which he claimed was for medical use. His release comes as Trump works to strengthen relations with Moscow while seeking an end to the Ukraine war.
Trump told reporters that Fogel would visit the White House upon his return to the U.S. and that he was reunited with his family on Tuesday night. A photo posted by Trump’s chief hostage envoy Adam Boehler showed Fogel aboard a plane, holding a glass of wine and his U.S. passport.
When asked what the U.S. gave up in exchange for Fogel’s release, Trump responded, “Not much”, framing the move as a sign of good faith from Russia.
Fogel’s Russian lawyer confirmed his release but said it was unclear on what legal grounds he was freed. He had been moved from a prison in Rybinsk to a pre-trial detention center in Moscow ahead of his release.
Fogel had previously been excluded from the August 2024 prisoner swap, which saw 16 prisoners freed from Russia in exchange for eight sent back from the West.
Trump has hinted at ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and described “good progress” toward resolving the Ukraine conflict, though he has not provided specifics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remained defiant on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil compan...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration plans to brief the U.S. Congress on operations against drug cartels and that even...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Friday that the “military brotherhood” between his country and Russia would continue to advance “without...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed a push by some Israeli lawmakers to advance annexation of the occupied West Bank, saying Israel was ...
European Union leaders on Thursday agreed to meet Ukraine’s urgent financial needs for the next two years but stopped short of formally backing the ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin remained defiant on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies in an effort to pressure the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine, a move that sent global oil prices soaring by 5%.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration plans to brief the U.S. Congress on operations against drug cartels and that even though he did not need a declaration of war, operations against cartels on land would be next.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Friday that the “military brotherhood” between his country and Russia would continue to advance “without pause,” according to state media outlet KCNA.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed a push by some Israeli lawmakers to advance annexation of the occupied West Bank, saying Israel was “not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remained defiant on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies in an effort to pressure the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine, a move that sent global oil prices soaring by 5%.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration plans to brief the U.S. Congress on operations against drug cartels and that even though he did not need a declaration of war, operations against cartels on land would be next.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Friday that the “military brotherhood” between his country and Russia would continue to advance “without pause,” according to state media outlet KCNA.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed a push by some Israeli lawmakers to advance annexation of the occupied West Bank, saying Israel was “not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
European Union leaders on Thursday agreed to meet Ukraine’s urgent financial needs for the next two years but stopped short of formally backing the use of frozen Russian assets to provide Kyiv with a major loan, following objections raised by Belgium.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment