US President Donald Trump has expressed his determination to secure the release of all American citizens currently imprisoned in Russian jails, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This statement came after the release of US citizen Marc Fogel by Moscow. Fogel, a Pennsylvania teacher and former US embassy employee, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in August 2021, several months after he lost his diplomatic immunity. Authorities found marijuana in his possession, which he claimed was prescribed for medical purposes.
Fogel was picked up on Tuesday by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The White House hailed the release as a “sign of good will” and added that it was a “sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and devastating war in Ukraine”.
Rubio commented on the development, noting that Washington aimed to free more American citizens from Russian custody. “Promises made, promises kept. President Trump promised the Fogel family that he would bring Marc home and today Marc is on his way. After three and a half years in Russian custody, Marc is finally free. The release of Marc is also a reminder that there are still more US citizens in Russian custody. President Trump is working to bring them all home” the statement from the US State Department read.
Trump said he appreciated what Russian President Vladimir Putin had done to facilitate the agreement and confirmed that another imprisoned US citizen would be released on Wednesday, without providing further details.
At present, at least nine American citizens are imprisoned in Russia, accused of espionage, drug offenses and bodily harm. Their prison sentences vary greatly, ranging from less than four years to 21 years, according to AP.
Fogel’s release is the first during Trump’s second term as president, in which a US citizen has been released from Russian custody. The last major prisoner exchange between the US and Russia took place in August 2020 and involved 26 individuals, the largest exchange since the Cold War.