Russian Citizen to Be Released From US in Exchange for Marc Fogel, Kremlin Confirms

Former US Embassy employee Marc Fogel has been released from Russian custody in exchange for a Russian prisoner in the US, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced, according to Russian media Meduza on February 12.

In return, a Russian citizen currently imprisoned in the United States will be sent back to Russia.

“As we have reported recently, work has been intensified through the appropriate channels, and contacts were made. The result of these contacts was the release of Fogel, as well as a Russian citizen currently in a US prison,” Peskov stated.

The Kremlin did not disclose the identity of the Russian citizen but noted that their release is expected “in the coming days.”

While Peskov downplayed the broader diplomatic implications of the exchange, he acknowledged that such agreements contribute, in small ways, to building mutual trust.

“These agreements are unlikely to be a turning point, but they are steps towards strengthening mutual trust, which is currently at its lowest point,” he said.

Fogel, a former teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was arrested in 2021 at a Russian airport for carrying cannabis into Russia, which he claimed was for medical purposes.

His detention drew comparisons to other high-profile cases, such as WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was freed in a similar prisoner swap in 2022.

Earlier, reports emerged that Stephen James Hubbard, a 73-year-old former American teacher, endured brutal torture in a Russian prison after being captured by Russian forces in Izium, Ukraine, in April 2022.