The Kremlin on Wednesday said an unnamed Russian citizen will be released from US custody as part of a deal to free American teacher Mark Vogel, who returned home three years later to Russian prisoners on Wednesday. .
The White House said the deal also includes the release of another American in Russia.
Fogel, now 63, was detained by Russian customs in 2021 as he owns half an ounce of medical marijuana.
fog It was returned On Tuesday, he was welcomed to the US at the White House, where he declared “now the luckyest man on the planet.”
“I want you to know that I'm not a hero in this. President Trump is a hero. These men from diplomatic services are heroes. The Senate passed the law in my honor to get me home. The lawmakers and representatives are heroes, and I am in awe of what they have done,” Vogel said.
“President Trump has wasted no time in securing Mark's release in just a few weeks and taking decisive action to bring Mark into the house,” the Vogel legal team said on Tuesday night. I mentioned it in.
President Joe Biden's administration, despite repeated pleas from his family, inexplicably ignored Vogel's light letters and did not even illegally detain Vogel until he was in prison for two years. Vogel was excluded from prison exchange transactions that were attacked by the Biden administration in 2022 and 2024.
President Donald Trump described Vogel's return as a “honest show” by Russians, saying, “it was the beginning of a relationship that could end that war in Ukraine, killing millions of people. I can stop it,” he said, hoping.
Kremlin only Immediate comment Fogel's release included that his contract for freedom included the announcement of imprisoned Russian citizens.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov I said On Wednesday, the identities of the released Russian citizens will be made public as Russian citizens arrive at Russian soil. Inmates are generally identified just before their release.
“Recently, work has been strengthened through related agencies. We have contact information, and these contact information, as well as one of the citizens of the Russian Federation currently in detention in the US, led to the release of Fogel. This citizen of the Russian Federation will also be returned to Russia in the next few days,” Peskov said.
Peskov refused to confirm speculation from a reporter that the Russian in question was Alexander Vinnik, a cryptocurrency criminal who was handed over from Greece to the US in 2017.
Vinnik I committed a crime Some of the money laundering accusations against him in May 2024, in a plea deal designed to put him behind the bar within a decade. Otherwise, he may have faced life in prison and is said to have washed about $4 billion through his BTC-E exchange.
Prosecutor explained Vinnik's cryptocurrency as “nexus of some criminal enterprises” forced victims to force Bitcoin on ransomware attacks and use Vinnik's services to turn ransom payments into clean traditional currency Included. Drug dealers are also said to have used the exchange to wash their profits.
Wednesday's Russian media source He seemed confident That Vinnik will become a prisoner who has been traded for Vogel's freedom.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hostage Envoy Adam Baler I said On Tuesday, a second American will be released by Russia by Russia as part of the contract. Rubio and Bowler did not identify this person.
Bowler added hope that “more and more” people will soon be home as President Trump “made it a priority to bring all Americans home.” At least nine Americans are currently incarcerated in Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov I said On Wednesday, Putin is ready to talk to President Trump.
“Regarding direct questions about communications, President Trump has repeatedly confirmed he is ready to meet in person by calling. Putin said about his reaction to such a statement from US leaders. When asked, he showed that it was open to this as well,” Lavrov said.
“As you can imagine, the decision will ultimately be made by the President himself. There is no doubt that relevant information will be provided,” he added.
Lavrov ironically implies that Europeans may try to undermine the bilateral talks between Trump and Putin, as they do not want Europeans to be excluded from negotiations on the Ukrainian war. did.
“Some people believe that communication between Moscow and Washington is violating their interests,” Lavrov said.
