Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania history teacher, has been serving a 14-year prison sentence in Russia after being arrested in 2021 at a Russian airport with what his family said was medically prescribed marijuana. US officials have now officially designated him as wrongfully detained, triggering legal requirements for the federal government to work towards his release.
A Pennsylvania history teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges has been officially designated as wrongfully detained, US officials announced Friday.when he and his wife flew to Russia to teach. He was caught at the airport with what his family said was medically prescribed marijuana that he took for chronic back pain.Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested in 2021 at a Russia n airport.
“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time,” the State Department said in a statement. “We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to.”Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said in a statement that “The State Department has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.
“Now that we have the full force of the U.S. government behind us, we must do everything in our power to bring Marc home as quickly and safely as possible.”The designation means the federal government is now legally required to work for his release. His case will be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which deals with hostage and detainee releases.
In making the determination, the State Department considers factors, including if there is credible information that the person is innocent and if the country holding the prisoner is seeking to influence US policy or get concessions from the US government. Three relatives dead after eating same Christmas cake -- months after baker's husband died from food poisoningDaredevil kayaker seen in resurfaced final haunting image before he vanished at sea: 'Bitten off more than I can chew'‘Bachelorette’ alum Andi Dorfman hospitalized with hematomas less than a week after giving birthMarc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after being arrested in 2021 at a Russian airport.
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