An IUP alum and western PA native who has been imprisoned in Russia has been deemed a “wrongfully detained” person by the U.S. Government.
Marc Fogel, a teacher that was returning to Moscow from Pennsylvania to teach at the Anglo-American School in Russia, was detained at the airport when authorities found legally-prescribed medicinal marijuana in his luggage in August of 2021. He was found guilty of drug possession and ordered to serve a 14 year sentence in a Russian maximum security penal colony. His family and several US Congressmen and Senators have tried to get him listed as “wrongfully detained”, and Fogel’s family have been pushing for the status for several years, even going as far as to file a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken last June, saying the Government was treating him differently than others who were previously held in Russia and were later released. That lawsuit was withdrawn from the family late yesterday.
The designation brings with it significant resources for the family, including medical care, mental health services and financial support.
In past statements, IUP president Dr. Michael Driscoll said that the University stood with Fogel and his family during the tough time. Fogel is a 1984 social studies education graduate of IUP.
We have reached out to IUP for a statement and are awaiting a response.
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