“Justice Long Overdue: U.S. Denounces Russia’s Wrongful Detention of Innocent American Teacher”

**Wrongful Detention: US Government Determines American Teacher Held in Russia on Drug Charges Has Been Wrongfully Detained**

The United States government has determined that an American teacher, Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia for more than three years on drug charges, was wrongfully detained. Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, was arrested at a Russian airport in August 2021 and is currently serving a 14-year sentence.

The US government’s designation of Fogel as a wrongful detainee is a significant development in his case, as it transfers oversight of his case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which focuses on cases involving the release of hostages and others wrongfully detained in foreign countries.

Fogel’s family and supporters have long maintained that he was wrongfully detained, claiming that the drugs found in his possession were prescribed by a doctor and used to treat his epilepsy. Despite this, he was charged with drug trafficking and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The US Department of State considers several factors when determining whether an American imprisoned in a foreign country is a wrongful detainee, including whether there is credible information that the person is innocent or whether the primary purpose of their detention is to influence US policy or secure concessions from the US government.

In this case, the Secretary of State concluded in October that Fogel was wrongfully detained, and the State Department has been working to secure his release for humanitarian purposes. The designation of Fogel as a wrongful detainee is a significant step forward in his case, as it provides a clear mechanism for the US government to work towards his release.

**FAQs**

1. Who is Marc Fogel?
Marc Fogel is an American teacher from Pennsylvania who has been detained in Russia for more than three years on drug charges.

2. Why was Fogel arrested?
Fogel was arrested at a Russian airport in August 2021 for possessing drugs that his family and supporters say were prescribed by a doctor to treat his epilepsy.

3. How long is Fogel’s sentence?
Fogel is serving a 14-year sentence in Russian prison.

4. How did the US government determine that Fogel was wrongfully detained?
The US government determined that Fogel was wrongfully detained after considering several factors, including credible information that he is innocent and the primary purpose of his detention being to influence US policy or secure concessions from the US government.

5. What does the designation of Fogel as a wrongful detainee mean for his case?
The designation of Fogel as a wrongful detainee transfers oversight of his case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which focuses on cases involving the release of hostages and others wrongfully detained in foreign countries. It also provides a clear mechanism for the US government to work towards his release.

**Conclusion**

The determination that Marc Fogel has been wrongfully detained is a significant development in his case, and it provides a clear mechanism for the US government to work towards his release. The US Department of State’s designation of Fogel as a wrongful detainee is a step forward in his case, and it highlights the importance of the US government’s efforts to secure the release of American citizens who have been wrongfully detained abroad.