Pennsylvania teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges is wrongfully detained: US officials

A Pennsylvania history teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges has been officially designated as wrongfully detained, US officials announced Friday.

Marc Fogel, a husband and father of two, was arrested in 2021 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.

Fogel is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence.

The US State Department determined in October that Fogel was wrongfully detained but just confirmed the designation Friday.

Fogel was omitted from a prisoner swap in August that included the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, corporate security executive Paul Whelan and others.

“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.

With Post wires