Marc Fogel, a 61-year-old American educator, has been detained in Russia since August 2021
Casey celebrates return of Brittney Griner, urges Administration to prioritize bringing Mr. Fogel home
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey applauded the release of Brittney Griner and urged the Biden Administration to prioritize the release of Marc Fogel, an American educator who has been imprisoned in Russia since August 2021. Marc Fogel is a resident of Oakmont, Pennsylvania and has served as an international educator for 35 years. He was detained in Russia in August 2021 for possession of marijuana, prescribed by a doctor for his chronic pain.
“I am pleased Brittney Griner is returning home to her family after months of wrongful detainment by the Russian government,” said Senator Casey. “I applaud the Biden administration for negotiating her release so that Ms. Griner can spend the holiday season with her family. However, while Ms. Griner and Paul Whelan’s cases have garnered national media attention over the past year, they are not the only Americans caught in the crosshairs of Vladimir Putin’s political games. Marc Fogel is an American teacher who is being detained in Russia under similar circumstances to Ms. Griner. Mr. Fogel suffers from severe medical conditions and his family fears he will not survive his 14-year sentence in a hard labor camp. The Biden administration, and the Nation, cannot forget about Marc. Like Ms. Griner and others, Marc deserves to see his family again.”
Senator Casey has been pushing the Biden Administration to prioritize Marc Fogel’s case over the course of the last year. In August, he sent a letter to Secretary Blinken urging the State Department to designate Mr. Fogel as “wrongfully detained,” so his case can get the appropriate attention from U.S. officials. Senator Casey followed up in October urging immediate action by the State Department.
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