Detained at a Moscow airport for possession of medical marijuana, then sentenced to 14 years, Fogel has been compared with basketball star Brittney Griner.
A Pittsburgh area school teacher has been excluded from a major prisoner swap between the United States, Russia, and several other countries, according to Pennsylvania congressional lawmakers.
While Casey called the historic, multi-country prisoner swap “good news,” he also expressed disappointment that Fogel was not included in the exchange.
Fogel, a Butler County native, suffers from chronic health issues and used medical marijuana to treat spinal pain. His health has significantly declined while behind bars in Russia, according to Casey.
“Negotiating with a foreign adversary is no easy task, but as the Administration has worked to bring home high-profile Americans like Brittney Griner, Evan Gershkovich, and Paul Whelan—we have only asked that they also prioritize Marc’s release,” the senator stated, noting that Fogel’s name wasn’t in the news every day compared to other American detainees.
“The sad reality that Marc Fogel is not headed back to Western Pennsylvania makes this a crushing day for his family, our community, and all who have been in the fight to try and bring him home.”
“Deals like this one come with tough calls, never any guarantees,” the president said. “There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad, and so we’ll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained Americans around the world.”
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan mirrored a similar statement in a separate press briefing. He specifically named Fogel and assured that efforts to secure his release remain in the works.
“Today was a very good day, and we’re going to build on it. Drawing inspiration and continued courage from it for all of those who were held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world,” he named.
Fogel’s case has been compared to that of American basketball star Brittney Griner. The WNBA player was arrested in February 2022 at a Russian airport for possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years at a labor camp. Griner was released in December of the same year in a prisoner swap in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
From NTD News