American teacher Marc Fogel was detained at Moscow airport in 2021 for carrying prescribed marijuana in his luggage and was later sentenced to 14 years of labor in a Russian penal colony.In the wake of the historic swap deal executed between Russia and the US for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout’s release from the US, several people also called for the release of Fogel.President Biden@POTUSMoments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe.She is on a plane.She is on her way home.33515457758Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe.She is on a plane.She is on her way home. https://t.co/FmHgfzrcDTDuring the negotiations of the prisoner swap, US Marine Paul Whelan was also described as a “wrongfully detained” American citizen in Russia. However, Fogel's name was not mentioned once during the proposals.Ahead of Griner’s release, Marc Fogel's niece, Kelly Leguineche, told CBS News that State Department officials have not named her uncle as one of the American detainees “wrongfully” held in Russia:“It's devastating because it feels like this was our last opportunity to save his life, and we just couldn't get the momentum we needed for it to matter to them.”Leguineche also opened up about her fears of not seeing her uncle again and said:"No one in the family or anyone that we've spoken to who is knowledgeable about the conditions of the penal colony thinks that he will survive anything close to this term.”They added:“Paying with your life for having less than an ounce of personal use, medicinal marijuana for chronic spinal pain is not justice.”Greg Price@greg_price11There's currently an American citizen named Marc Fogel imprisoned in Russia for having prescribed medical marijuana in his luggage. He received a harsher sentence than Brittney Griner in a maximum security prison. The State Department doesn't even list him as wrongfully detained.77012181There's currently an American citizen named Marc Fogel imprisoned in Russia for having prescribed medical marijuana in his luggage. He received a harsher sentence than Brittney Griner in a maximum security prison. The State Department doesn't even list him as wrongfully detained.Similar to Griner, Marc Fogel was also arrested for carrying medical marijuana, a substance that is considered illegal in Russia. The latter reportedly had nearly 17 grams of marijuana in his luggage, which is 20 times more than a gram of hash oil found inside Griner’s vaporizer cartridges.Both parties claimed that the drugs were medically prescribed for severe pain, but the Russian law considers no exceptions, and cannabis is considered illegal even if prescribed by a doctor.A look into Marc Fogel’s arrest in RussiaOn August 14, 2021, the-then 60-year-old Anglo-American School (AAS) teacher Marc Fogel was arrested at a Moscow airport with approximately 17 grams of cannabis while he was traveling with his wife to teach at an international private school in Moscow.Although the educator mentioned that the substance was prescribed to him by a doctor in the US to treat his critical spinal condition and associated pain, Fogel was still detained in a Russian prison.On June 16, 2022, a Russian court sentenced the teacher to 14 years in a penal colony following 10 months in pretrial detention. Reports suggest that the sentence was allegedly longer than the ones usually given to major drug traffickers and sometimes even murderers.During the hearing, the court also mentioned Fogel’s history of health issues, commendable record as a teacher, sincere regret, and lack of any previous criminal records, but did not consider lessening his sentence based on either of the points.According to The National Interest, Marc Fogel’s rights as a prisoner were repeatedly violated in Russia. He has not received any visits from the consuls since November 2021 and was not allowed to contact his family via phone.He was allegedly given injections without proper medical evaluation, including doses of diclofenac, known for having severe side effects like chest pain, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Fogel reportedly told his lawyers that the dosage and frequency of the injections exceeded the recommended limit.None of the claims have been verified, as prison officials have reportedly denied to provide Fogel’s medical records to his lawyers. More recently, the detainee’s niece, Kelly Leguineche, told CBS News that no explanation has been given by the State Department about her uncle not being addressed as "wrongfully detained" by the U.S. government.The classification reportedly allows the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs to start negotiations for the detainee’s release. Leguineche said that State Department officials advised their family keep a low profile and hope for a lenient sentence when Fogel was arrested last year.Unfortunately, the educator was given a 14-year sentence in June. Lawyer Sasha Phillips, an advisor to Fogel family told the publication that they were concerned about Marc Fogel’s status:“We are concerned that Marc's name has not been mentioned in connection with the current prisoner exchange negotiations.”Phillips said she believes Fogel’s sentencing was harsh as compared to other situations due to political tensions:“The same court that gave Marc 14 years for less than 20 grams of medical marijuana, gave 15 years for contraband and sale of over 105 kilos of cocaine.”Leguineche also said that she had “almost no insight” into her uncle's current condition as the family is only allowed to communicate with him through letters translated into Russian for screening.Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of 11 congressmen from Pennsylvania, Fogel’s home state, urged US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to classify Marc Fogel as “wrongfully detained.”Jessica Guay@JessicaGuayTVAfter Brittney Griner was released from from Russian detainment in a prisoner swap, many people wonder why Marc Fogel from the Pittsburgh area was not included in the exchange. We’ll have reaction and what lawmakers are doing to fight for his return home- coming up at noon @KDKA.136After Brittney Griner was released from from Russian detainment in a prisoner swap, many people wonder why Marc Fogel from the Pittsburgh area was not included in the exchange. We’ll have reaction and what lawmakers are doing to fight for his return home- coming up at noon @KDKA. https://t.co/Whip5anYfLMeanwhile, Fogel’s niece launched an online petition in an attempt to draw attention to her uncle’s story as the outcry over basketball star Brittney Griner's release from Russia continued to grow louder.Leguineche said they are still hopeful that the State Department will reach out to their family and explain their plans so that they can get an “indication” that Marc Fogel will not be forgotten.Twitter demands Marc Fogel’s release as Brittney Griner is freed from Russian prisonMarc Fogel has been detained in Russia for carrying medical marijuana since 2021 (Image via Jessica Guay/Twitter)Brittney Griner’s arrest at the Sheremetyevo International Airport for carrying medical cannabis and her detention at a Russian prison sparked major outrage across the US, with several people urging the government to bring back the WNBA star.Following months of prisoner swap negotiations between Russia and the US, Griner was finally released from prison in exchange for Viktor Bout. While America celebrated the athlete’s return, some made renewed calls for the release of American teacher Marc Fogel.Many also took to Twitter to request that authorities consider steps that could bring the educator back home:Michael McFaul@McFaulPaul Whelan is not the only American still wrongly detained in Russia. Please don’t forget about Marc Fogel. I knew Marc when I was US Ambassador to Russia. He was a teacher to many of our diplomats and soldiers. He is a real patriot. We must fight for his release as well.1659407Paul Whelan is not the only American still wrongly detained in Russia. Please don’t forget about Marc Fogel. I knew Marc when I was US Ambassador to Russia. He was a teacher to many of our diplomats and soldiers. He is a real patriot. We must fight for his release as well.Rep. Guy Reschenthaler@GReschenthalerI will continue to relentlessly advocate for Pittsburgh native Marc Fogel’s release and for the State Department to classify him as wrongfully detained, something they have failed to do since his detainment in August 2021.8I will continue to relentlessly advocate for Pittsburgh native Marc Fogel’s release and for the State Department to classify him as wrongfully detained, something they have failed to do since his detainment in August 2021.Poetic Patriot@Tactical_DeonNow release marc fogel12Now release marc fogel https://t.co/K5bQtbGlAzChris Moltisanti@loyle_to_a_capoThis is Marc Fogel. He was an American teacher who was arrested and sentenced to 14 years of labour in Russia for carrying medical marijuana across the border. His freedom was never negotiated because he's a regular citizen, unlike Brittney Griner. Remember him.63This is Marc Fogel. He was an American teacher who was arrested and sentenced to 14 years of labour in Russia for carrying medical marijuana across the border. His freedom was never negotiated because he's a regular citizen, unlike Brittney Griner. Remember him. https://t.co/BVcHocAsblkatheryn kovacic@KovacicKat58I’m glad the Brittney was released but what about Marc Fogel, did he get released too? I hope they are working his release too.I’m glad the Brittney was released but what about Marc Fogel, did he get released too? I hope they are working his release too.Moenelissa@elissa6054@wrong_speak Grateful that Brittany Grinder is coming home. I hope they are working on the release of Marc Fogel and Paul Whelan.@wrong_speak Grateful that Brittany Grinder is coming home. I hope they are working on the release of Marc Fogel and Paul Whelan.Mark@MarkMizzouSteelPut aside Paul Whelan for a moment. Marc Fogel, an American citizen who was caught with the same drug at the same Moscow airport as Brittney Griner & got an even heftier sentence still sits in a Russian prison. This was purely down for PR reasons. Bigger name makes bigger news.91Put aside Paul Whelan for a moment. Marc Fogel, an American citizen who was caught with the same drug at the same Moscow airport as Brittney Griner & got an even heftier sentence still sits in a Russian prison. This was purely down for PR reasons. Bigger name makes bigger news.Thomas Smith@therealtsmiffLet’s not forget Marc Fogel. Serving 14 years in a Russian prison for a small amount on pot. He’s a teacher not an athlete/celebrity. #FreeFogel12Let’s not forget Marc Fogel. Serving 14 years in a Russian prison for a small amount on pot. He’s a teacher not an athlete/celebrity. #FreeFogelWazzusJobu@WazzusJobuNow that Biden has got Griner out, maybe his administration can classify Marc Fogel as wrongly detained now so they can try to get his release. So far he hasn’t be labeled that.1Now that Biden has got Griner out, maybe his administration can classify Marc Fogel as wrongly detained now so they can try to get his release. So far he hasn’t be labeled that.K a t y@kayteeodThe Biden administration needs to finally classify Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained. Literally the least they can do.193The Biden administration needs to finally classify Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained. Literally the least they can do.As demands and requests continue to pour in online, it remains to be seen if the US State Department will address the concerns surrounding Marc Fogel's imprisonment in Russia and provide him a “wrongfully detained” status.