Who is Mark Vogel? The American teacher caught in a struggle for global power.

Mark Vogel traveled easily to and from Russia several times before his recent return to the country in August 2021. History has learned nearly a decade ago, most of them to the children of diplomats, at the Anglo -American School in Moscow.

But when Russia enters before what he decided, his last year will be in school, Mr. Vogel was arrested and accused of drug smuggling Less than an ounce of hashish that he used to treat chronic back pain. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a high -security prison; In Russia, less judgments are often granted to convicted killers.

After pressure by the US government, Mr. Vogel, 63, was released on Tuesday after three and a half years in reservation.

He and his wife, Jane, were international adventurers about to retire, after they lived in Colombia, Malaysia, Oman, Venezuela and Russia. But just like the other Americans who were imprisoned in Russia, like basketball star Britney Greenner and journalist Ivan Gerchkovich, he became a pawn in power struggles between Moscow and Washington surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

Even a year before his arrest, Mr. Fajel, like all the teachers of the Anglo -American School, was suffering from diplomatic immunity. But with the high tensions with the United States, Russia stripped the teachers of that protection. In 2022, Russia forced the school to close and confiscate its property.

“Essentially hostage,” said Eric Robin, a former American diplomat in Moscow, who knows Mr. Vogel and worked to release him. He said he was suspected that the Russian authorities knew that Mr. Vogel would carry the hashish disk when he landed at the Shermitivo Airport near Moscow with his wife, Jane.

“This was definitely a preparation,” said Mr. Robin.

Mr. Vogel had a prescription for the doctor about the medical marijuana and according to Web site keeps his family“He planned to announce the medical marijuana in Russian customs.” The site says, “Mark suffered from physical diseases including severe back and problems associated with the knee, hip and shoulder,” and even showing X -rays that appear pins and nails in the lower spine.

Nothing has been recognized by this matter to the authorities in Russia, where the medical use of marijuana was not recognized – although the family’s website says: “Russia has previously allowed to bring marijuana with a prescription to the doctor.”

Mr. Vogel was tried by the same court, such as Mrs. Greenner, who was convicted of a similar crime and sentenced to nine years in prison in a criminal colony. It was exchanged in December 2022, about 10 months after the reservation Victor NubiaThe condemned Russian arms dealer.

After his conviction, Mr. Vulgel was sent to a long work camp in northern Moscow, the site that made it difficult for diplomats to visit, as his family said that he had received a sub -level medical care and “his deterioration was dramatic.” Last year, they talked about his “severe health issues”, their fear that his 95 -year -old mother will not see him again, and urgently “save him from death in a Russian prison.”

The family has become angry at the Biden administration for not paying great attention to the plight of Mr. Vogel as much as Mrs. Grener, Mr. Jerkekovic, the Wall Street Journal, who was released last August in the barter of a prisoner, or Paul Willian, an American who was detained in Russia from 2018 Until he was released with Mr. Geershkovich. In fact, they said that his government had abandoned him.

on Website This calls for his release. Supporters of Mr. Fujel said that before his election, President Trump promised his mother that he was “committed to bringing” Mr. Fajel to the house. At the end of December, the Foreign Ministry said that the US government announced that Mr. Vogel was incorrectly detained – a step that his family said was three years later.

The family said in a statement after the announcement: “Now that we have the full power of the United States government behind us, we must do everything we can to bring Mark to the house as soon as possible.”

Speaking during the Senate confirmation session in January, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said it would be impossible to improve the relations between Washington and Moscow unless Mr. Vogel was released.

“If they are not ready to do this, I think the chances of improving relations between Russia and the United States are impossible,” said Mr. Rubio.