Russia releases American teacher jailed over medicinal cannabis after more than three years

An American teacher sentenced to 14 years successful a Russian jailhouse has been released and is flying location to beryllium reunited with his family.

Marc Fogel, 63, was pictured connected a formation to the US connected Tuesday - much than 3 years aft helium was arrested successful Moscow for cause smuggling.

He was detained aft travelling with what his household said was medically prescribed cannabis. In December, the US authorities designated him arsenic wrongfully detained.

Mr Fogel near Russia with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff successful what officials said could assistance bring astir talks to extremity the Ukraine war.

US nationalist information advisor Mike Waltz said: "President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the president's advisers negotiated an speech that serves arsenic a amusement of bully religion from the Russians".

"By tonight, Marc Fogel volition beryllium connected American ungraded and reunited with his household and loved ones acknowledgment to President Trump's leadership," helium added.

Moscow has truthful acold not commented and it is unclear what concessions the US mightiness person made.

"We are beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed that aft much than 3 years of detention, our father, husband, and son, Marc Fogel, is yet coming home," the household said successful a statement.

They said their clip isolated had been "the darkest and astir achy play of our lives".

Mr Waltz said the woody was "a motion we are moving successful the close absorption to extremity the brutal and unspeakable warfare successful Ukraine".

Donald Trump said past period his medication was progressive successful "very serious" talks with Russia astir the aboriginal of the conflict.

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Mr Fogel's merchandise comes six months aft helium was excluded from the biggest captive swap since the Cold War.

That historical woody won the merchandise of Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich and erstwhile US Marine Paul Whelan, among others.

Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov was among those released from Western prisons successful exchange.

However, US-Russian nationalist Ksenia Khavana remains locked up aft getting a 12-year treason sentence successful August related to a $52 donation to a foundation benefiting Ukraine.