American Teacher Detained in Russia

In a recent development, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, alongside a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, has formally requested U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to classify Marc Fogel, a Butler County native, as wrongfully detained in Russia. Fogel, who had returned to Russia for his tenth year of teaching, was arrested at Moscow's airport while carrying 17 grams of cannabis, which he claims was for medical use to alleviate chronic back pain. He was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison and has since been moved to a hard labor colony. Since Fogel's detention in 2021, his family and supporters have been actively advocating for his release. Congressman Guy Reschenthaler and other officials have persistently urged the Biden Administration to take action on his behalf. The situation gained further attention following a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia in late 2022, which included WNBA player Brittney Griner but did not involve Fogel. Senator Casey expressed disappointment that Fogel was not included in the negotiations, emphasizing that he and others are not criminals. President Biden addressed the issue, assuring that the administration is not abandoning efforts to secure Fogel's release. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby noted that the Russians were unwilling to include Fogel in the recent discussions. As of now, Marc Fogel remains incarcerated in Russia, with ongoing efforts from his supporters to bring him home.