US schoolteacher released by Russia happymamay

Former American school and diplomatic teacher, Mark Vogel, fell in the United States after he was released from prison in Russia.

The 63 -year -old fell at the joint base, Andrews outside Washington, DC, late on Tuesday evening. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet at the White House later.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz earlier on Tuesday said that Mr. Vogel had been released as part of an exchange with Russia.

Russia did not comment on his release. Meanwhile, she told Mr. Fujel BBC’s sister about her “strong satisfaction” in his freedom.

“I plan to celebrate within the next 24 hours,” said Ane Vogel. “We are very happy.”

She said that her brother, who was held in Russia in 2021, was transferred last Wednesday from a criminal colony in Ribinsk. She said that the family knew that his release was a possibility, but also “these negotiations are very weak.”

After landing on the American soil, the White House published X: “The promises that were made, and their promises!” Along with the image of Mr. Vogel.

In a statement obtained from CBS News, the BBC, his wife, Jin and his sons, Ethan Wissam, said: “This was the darkest and most painful period in our lives, but today, we start recovery.”

Mr. Vogel was arrested at an illegal possession of cannabis in 2021.

He was charged with carrying a small amount of medical marijuana, which was described in the United States, and was granted a 14 -year prison sentence.

Mr. Vogel’s legal team thanked Trump for his role in negotiating and criticized what they called “Bureaucrat” for the former Biden administration.

A statement from his lawyer said.

Mr. Vogel was not classified by the United States government as being incorrectly detained until December 2024, despite the start of his sentence in 2022.

His family tried to push former President Joe Biden to secure his release, and she was disappointed when he was excluded from the exchange of prisoners in 2022 and 2024.

American basketball star Britney Grener, who was arrested in Russia, was accused of hemp in 2022, He was released in an exchange to confront Russian weapons VIKTOR after 10 months.

After that, the Biden administration obtained the issuance of three other Americans last year as part of The largest exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The Americans, who were released, were the Wall Street Journal Evan Gerchkovich, the veteran in the United States, Paul Willian, and US -Russian radio journalists, Aleso Kurmheva.

Ann Fujel BBC said At the time of feeling “betrayal” when she learned that her brother was not included in the exchange of prisoners – which Biden had praised “an achievement of diplomacy.”

Mr. Vogel, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a teacher at the American Moscow School. He had previously worked as a diplomat at the American embassy there.

While he was in prison, he was said to have taught the English language for his prisoners.

It is not clear whether the United States has launched a person against Mr. Vogel.

Mr. Vogel has returned to the United States with Steve Whitchov, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.

Wittouf’s trip to Russia is the first by a senior American official in the country for several years. Most communication between countries was closed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

National Security Adviser Waltz said that the release of Mr. Vogel was “an offer for good faith and a sign that we move in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.” Not provided more details.

President Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Beesen will travel to Ukraine later this week.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.

But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said: “They are [Ukraine] A deal may be made, they may not have an agreement. They may be Russian one day, or they may not be Russian one day. “

In response to a question from the British Broadcasting Corporation about the link set by officials between the release and the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Fujel said: “These are the giant intrigues of the global policy in playing.

“It will be interesting to look at this and know how it fits all of this … how the date is turned on.”