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Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American schoolteacher, has been released from Russian custody after being convicted for smuggling marijuana into the country. Fogel's release was announced on February 11, 2025, following negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials, as stated by Mike Waltz, former national security adviser. Fogel had been serving a 14-year sentence since 2021.
Fogel, who had taught at the Anglo-American School in Moscow since 2012, was apprehended for bringing 17 grams of marijuana into Russia. According to Waltz, this exchange is a "show of good faith" from Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, although he did not disclose the specifics of what the U.S. offered in return.
Fogel's family expressed their relief and gratitude upon learning of his release. They stated, “This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal,” highlighting the emotional toll of his detention. Fogel is expected to return to the U.S. on the same day.