A bipartisan measure calling for the release of an IUP alumnus and teacher from Russian custody has passed the U.S. Senate.
The resolution, introduced by Senator Bob Casey, and co-sponsored by Senator John Fetterman and four other senators, calls on the Biden administration to prioritize the release of Marc Fogel. The Butler County native and IUP graduate has been in Russian Custody since August of 2021 for carrying less than an ounce of medicinal marijuana that was legally prescribed to him to treat chronic pain. He was prosecuted on charges of drug trafficking and was ordered to serve 14 years in a Russian prison. He was later moved to a Russian penal colony to serve the remainder of his time.
In a news release, Casey said that Fogel has devoted his life to educating students and said that Fogel’s health was severely declining after three years of captivity. Fetterman added that Fogel deserves to see his family again and that the passage of the resolution sends a very clear message to bring him home.
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