An American teacher who was detained by Russia is going back to the US soil, the Trump administration announced on Tuesday.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said in a statement, “Today, President Donald J. Trump and his special envoy Steve Witchoff are able to announce that Mr. Witcoff is leaving Russian airspace with Russia Phogel, an American whom by Russia Was taken into custody. ”
He said, “President Trump, Steve Witcoff and President’s advisors interacted on an exchange, which serves as a performance of good faith from the Russians and a sign that we are right to end the cruel and terrible war in Ukraine Moving in the direction, “he said.
Mark Phogel, a history teacher in Pennsylvania, was serving a 14 -year jail sentence after arrests at a Russian airport to occupy a Russian airport in August 2021, who was serving a 14 -year jail sentence, which his family and supporters said that medical The form was marijuana.
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Mark Phogel with his family (Ellen Kelan and Lisa Highland)
63 -year -old Phogel was wrongly detained by the US government. Leading for his arrest in nine years, he was teaching at Anglo-American School in Moscow.
In a statement, Phogel’s wife Jane and sons Ethan and Sam said that they were “grateful, beyond relief, and were overwhelmed” that he was released.
He said, “Thanks to President Trump’s unwavering leadership, Mark will soon return to the US earth, where he is,” he said. “This has been the deepest and most painful period of our life, but today, we start fixing. We cannot express our gratitude to everyone who fought for the mark – our friends, supporters and martin D. Luka’s extraordinary legal teams, the US and the EPAM law in Russia, Andrew Smith and Sasha Philips who stood by our loved ones and tirelessly fought for their release.
Phogel’s American legal team Martin de Luka and Andrew Smith’s Boiz Schiller Flexner LLP are called “Long OverDu”.
“After years of inactivity of bureaucracy, including continuous refugees to keep the marc into custody wrongly, President Trump secured Mark’s release in a few weeks, no time was wasted in taking decisive action to bring Mark home Kaya is very grateful to President Trump and his team to secure the freedom of Mark.
Ellen Kallen, Center, and other family members rally outside the White House for the release of Mark Phogel, who has been detained in Washington since August 2021 in Russia. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbro)
His Russian legal team in Igorov Puginsky Affairs and Partners said, “release” is a new chapter for our customer and a new chapter to improve bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.
Phogel’s mother, Malfin, told Fox News to the “US Report” that “this is a good day. ,
He said, “He called me today earlier saying that he was at a Moscow airport and was waiting to fly to Washington, DC,” he said, seeing that he was given that he was to free his son. The immediate efforts were not known. “It was a total surprise when he called.”
“Last week, either, for a crazy reason, I had a bitter feeling about it,” he said. “I want to see him as badly as I can possibly feel, but I want him to live with his family, his wife and two boys. He has been suffering the most.”
Phogel’s relatives also told the Associated Press that they were “grateful, relief and overwhelmed” that he was coming home.
“This has been the deepest and most painful period of our life, but today, we begin to fix,” he said. “For the first time in years, our family may be ready for the future with Asha.”
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On July 15, 2023, Ellen Kilan, Center and other family members rally outside the White House for the release of Mark Phogel. (AP/Stephanie Scarbro)
Waltz said in his statement, “Since the swearing in of President Trump, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained worldwide, and President Trump will continue as long as all Americans to the United States Is not returned to America.
He said, “By tonight, Mark Phogel will be on the US soil and will re -join his family and loved ones for the leadership of President Trump.”
Sen John Fetterman, D-P.
“Mark Phogel’s return home is overdue for a long time – and I know everyone in Pennsylvania, especially his family, will welcome him with open weapons. I appreciate President Trump and Steve Witcoff, who finally Mark For his efforts to bring home. “
On X, Pennsylvania village. Josh Shapiro welcomed Phogel’s return.
“After more than 3 years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners and all his fellow pencilins to welcome Mark Phogel’s house – in fact where he is. And in Pennsylvania, his wife Jane, mother, in Pennsylvania For brother -in -law and children, who never gave up, never gave up. “
Dan Hoffman, a former head of CIA station and contributor of Fox News, called the release “success of major foreign policy” on Tuesday.
“At any time we are able to remove one of our citizens from behind the enemy lines in Russia, it is good on administration to do so. Steven Witchoff has a lot on his plate to work with the Middle East right now Found, and it is incredibly impressive for me. At its top he was able to secure Mark Phogel’s release, “Hoffman told Fox News to” America’s Report “.
Fogel was released from a large -scale prisoner in August 2024, which was freed several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gorskovicch and corporate security executive Paul Vehlan.
Phogel was taught in AAS Moscow (formerly known as Moscow’s Anglo-American School). (Ellen Kelan and Lisa Highland)
Phogel never complained about his custody conditions, actually separated from being detained, his mother said.
Phogel was a graduate of Pennsylvania at the 1984 Indiana University.
School president Michael Driskl wrote last year, “After graduating from IUP, Mark dedicated his life – 36 years – for education,” the school president, Michael Drisk, wrote last year. “He taught history courses in schools participating by American diplomats in Colombia, Venezuela, Oman and Malaysia.”
In the last summer, Malfin Phogel met with Trump, before he took the stage at the rally at Butler, Pa, which ended quickly due to an attempt to murder.
“He was as cordial as it could,” he said. “He told me three different times,” If I go in, I will take him out. ” I really feel that he is really important, he and [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio, “He said.” I really feel that they were playing an important role in happening so, and I just want to thank them. I would like to thank him (Trump) deeply. He promised me that he would take him out, and he fulfilled his promise. ,
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“He said,” We will get him out, “he said.
On Tuesday, he told the “US report” that “I think it’s the first thing he comes to the United States.
Fox News’ Landon Mione and Associated Press contributed to this report.
