Members of congress have unanimously passed a resolution supporting a Western Pennsylvania teacher currently imprisoned in Russia.
Earlier this month, members of congress unanimously supported a resolution that called for the immediate release of individuals that are currently serving time in Russia. On that list was Marc Fogel, an IUP Graduate and Butler County High School Teacher. He is currently serving 14 years in a penal colony on drug possession. He had less than 20 grams of medicinal marijuana on him when he was detained nearly two years ago. Several Pennsylvania Lawmakers, including Congressman Guy Reschenthaler, who represents most of Indiana County in the 14th Congressional District, and Senator Bob Casey, have requested that the State Department classify Fogel as being wrongfully detained and call on the Russian government to release him immediately.
There was hope that Fogel would have been involved in the prisoner swap that brought WNBA star Brittney Griner back to the states. Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gerskovich was classified by the state department as wrongfully detained two months after his arrest on espionage charges.
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