The sister of Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for illegal possession of cannabis, expressed her disappointment that her brother was not among those freed in the recent US-Russia prisoner swap. Anne Fogel told the BBC about the family’s frantic efforts to secure her brother’s release, as he serves a 14-year prison sentence for carrying a small amount of medical marijuana prescribed in the US.
Despite Mr. Fogel’s absence from the swap, US officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and President Biden, have assured the family that they are actively working to secure his release. Anne Fogel remains hopeful, saying, “I’m playing to whatever hope I can so yes, to a certain degree.”
White House National Security Council deputy adviser Jonathan Finer confirmed that efforts are ongoing to bring Mr. Fogel back to the United States and reunite him with his family. While the timeline for his return remains uncertain, officials are committed to working on his case every single day.
As the Fogel family continues to advocate for Marc’s release, they are grateful for the successful return of other Americans in the historic prisoner swap and remain hopeful that their loved one will soon be among them.
