Washington – Mark Vogela teacher at an American school that has been held in Russia since 2021, returned to US soil late Tuesday night after the White House announced that he had negotiated his release.
The White House has released photos of a fog of joy unloading a plane at Andrews’ joint base in Maryland. He was accompanied by White House national security advisers Michael Waltz and Adam Berer, as well as hostage envoys for the Trump administration.
He was then taken to the White House, where he was greeted outside by President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images
“I feel like the lucky man on the planet right now,” Vogel said at a briefing with reporters with Trump in the diplomat reception room, promoting the president’s return. He called him “hero.”
“I’m a middle class school teacher in a dream world right now,” Fogel said.
The White House refused to provide details about what the US had given up on its deal with Russia, and Trump also refused to say how it reached it, saying, “very much.” It’s just fair and very rational.” The president also teased, “Someone else has been released tomorrow, you know.”
Trump did not say when he spoke directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of Vogel’s release.
Waltz previously said that Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkov, had left Russia’s outer space in Vogel. Designated as “Incorrectly detained” By the US at the end of last year.
“President Trump, Steve Witkov and his presidential 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,” he said. said in a statement. . “Since President Trump took the oath, he has successfully secured the release of detained Americans around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans detained are returned to the United States.”
Bowler had posted previous photos of Vogel on a plane back to the US.
Fogel, a history teacher in Pennsylvania, was arrested by Russian authorities in 2021 at a Moscow airport. His family said he is carrying 17 grams of marijuana for medical reasons to treat chronic low back pain.
His family Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden, was pushing to secure his release, especially after being left out of prisoner swaps negotiated by the previous administration. In December 2022, Russia launched WNBA star Britney Greener 1-1 prisoner swap For international weapons dealers Viktor match.
Then, last August, the Biden administration Release has been secured Of three more Americans from Russia – Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan GerschkovichMarines Paul Whelan Russian American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva – As part of a 24 prisoner exchange.
In addition to Vogel, the deal omitted several other Americans who were imprisoned in Russia, including musicians Michael Travis LeakUS military staff sergeant Gordon Black Russian American ballerina Ksenia Karelina.
In a statement, Vogel’s family thanked Trump and other allies for fighting for his release.
“We are grateful, relieved and overwhelmed that our father, husband and son Mark Vogel will finally be home after more than three years of detention,” they said. “Thanks to President Trump’s unwavering leadership, Mark will soon be back to the American soil he belongs to. This was the darkest and most painful time in our lives, but today we are It starts to heal.”
Fogel’s legal team Martin De Luca and Andrew Smith praised the president and his administration for freeing him.
“The release of Mark Vogel has been historic and has been postponed for a long time, and is a testament to the power of strong leadership,” they said. “After years of bureaucratic inaction, including a consistent refusal to designate Mark as falsely detaining him, President Trump secured Mark’s release in just a few weeks and made a critical decision to bring Mark home. I didn’t waste any time doing anything like that.”
Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick supported Vogel’s release.
“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,” Democrat Fetterman told X. I am writing.
“I’m excited to finally return home after years of mistakenly detaining Mark Vogel in Russia,” Republican McCormick told the post. “I have been working with the administration since day one, and I would like to thank President Trump and Secretary Rubio for providing my commitment to Freemark. When I spoke to Mark’s mom, Mafa in August, we were He had to do. Do everything he can to get Mark home. It’s a blessing that this day has finally come.”
Vogel’s mother, Malfin Vogel, had it criticised Biden and his administration to delay designating her son as I was mistakenly taken into custody. It will be done by the Secretary of State to clarify how the Department of State office and federal agencies will work together to develop a plan to ensure the release of detainees.
she He filed a lawsuit However, the case was rejected by the State Department last June. Malfin Fogel was set to attract the attention of many citizens in his son’s detention. During the meeting on July 13th Trump is in Butler, Pennsylvania, but the campaign event is The gunman fired To the crowd. The president and two others were injured, and one man was killed during an attempted assassination.
“I was going to take the stage with him and he was going to mention (Mark’s) name,” Malfin Fogel told CBS News Pittsburgh last July. “We were going to put it out for the whole world to hear. Well, that didn’t happen because we didn’t get on stage.”
She met with Trump before the rally and said she had promised to secure the release of Mark Vogel if she was elected for a second term.
