The sister of American citizen Marc Fogel expressed disappointment as her brother was not included in the recent prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. Fogel, who was sentenced to 14 years at a hard labor camp in Russia on drug charges, was not among the 24 detainees released in the swap.
Despite hopes that Fogel would be part of the exchange, his sister Anne Fogel revealed that he remains in the Russian city Rybinsk. The Biden administration had sought Fogel's release but was unsuccessful in securing his return to America.
Fogel, a teacher working in Moscow, was arrested in 2021 for drug possession after entering the country with cannabis. His family and lawyer maintain that the cannabis was for medical purposes, prescribed by a doctor to alleviate severe spinal pain.
This recent development marks the first time a US official has acknowledged Fogel as wrongfully detained, a designation that Fogel's family had been advocating for. The administration has pledged to continue efforts to secure Fogel's release, along with others in similar situations.
Despite the setback, Anne Fogel remains hopeful that her brother will eventually be reunited with his family in the United States. The rollercoaster of emotions and uncertainty surrounding Fogel's case has taken a toll on his loved ones, who continue to push for his safe return.
