Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania man imprisoned in Russia, has been designated as “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government. Fogel, originally from Butler County, was detained in Moscow after being found with 17 grams of cannabis for medical purposes to treat chronic back pain. He was convicted of drug smuggling and possession and is currently serving a 14-year sentence in a high-security penal colony in Russia. Since his imprisonment, his family and lawmakers have been urging the U.S. government to bring him home, with efforts including a petition with thousands of signatures and pressure from Pennsylvania Senators and a U.S. Representative.
In December 2022, a prisoner swap agreement between the U.S. and Russia did not include Fogel, despite efforts to include him in the deal. Another prisoner swap in August also did not bring Fogel home, leading to criticism of the Biden administration from Fogel’s mother for not doing more to secure her son’s release. The designation of wrongfully detained by the U.S. government means that efforts will be made to secure Fogel’s release, including collaboration between various U.S. government agencies and the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. However, there is no clear timeline on how long it may take to secure Fogel’s release.
The designation of wrongfully detained is rare and carries significant weight, as it puts the full force of the U.S. government behind securing the release of the individual. Once a person is determined to be wrongfully detained, various government offices work together to develop a strategy for their release. Fogel’s mother previously sued the government in June in an effort to bring him home from Russia. Efforts from lawmakers and advocacy groups have been ongoing to bring attention to Fogel’s case and urge the U.S. government to take action to secure his release.
Despite previous prisoner swaps between the U.S. and Russia, including the release of other detainees, Fogel has not yet been included in any agreements to bring him home. President Biden has expressed determination to work towards Fogel’s release, but challenges remain in negotiating his return. The U.S. government’s designation of Fogel as wrongfully detained means that efforts will continue to secure his release, with a focus on diplomatic negotiations and potential sanctions against Russia. The case remains ongoing, with no clear timeline on when Fogel may be released from Russian imprisonment.
