Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel remains in Russia as Gershkovich, others are freed

Marc Fogel was left behind.

The Oakmont teacher was not part of a historic prisoner swap completed Thursday among the United States, Russia and other countries. Instead, Fogel was seemingly abandoned, left in a Russian prison while Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, ex-Marine Paul Whelan, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Washington Post columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza made their way home.

“It just leaves you with an unbelievable empty feeling,” Malphine Fogel told TribLive on Thursday. “I thought we had hope.”

The 95-year-old Butler resident sounded like she’s losing hope of having her son return home and losing faith in the government to make it happen.

“It’s almost too late, I think,” said Malphine Fogel, who worries about her son’s health.

Marc Fogel, 62, a history teacher from Oakmont who taught diplomats’ children at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was arrested Aug. 14, 2021, when he was found in possession of 17 grams of medical marijuana. The marijuana was legally dispensed to him in Pennsylvania for decades of well-documented back, knee, hip and shoulder pain.

Fogel has been hospitalized at least four times during his incarceration.

The omission of Fogel amid the massive prisoner swap did not sit well with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

“This prisoner swap is good news for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and their families, but Marc Fogel is still sitting in a Russian prison,” Casey, D-Scranton, said in a prepared statement. “Marc Fogel is a teacher from Pittsburgh with chronic health issues whose health has declined significantly during his imprisonment. His 95-year-old mother, Malphine, fears she will never see him again. As we celebrate the good news of today, we cannot forget about Marc and the Fogel family.”

Unlike Gershkovich, Whelan and Kara-Murza, Fogel is not designated as wrongfully detained. That is a specific label that carries privileges such as consular assistance for family, application of international pressure and diplomatic tools and help with things like travel and medical care.

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Instead, the State Department has asked Russia to release Fogel on “humanitarian” grounds. Russia historically declines those requests.

Last week, Casey criticized the Biden administration and State Department for their handling of Fogel’s case, calling it “intolerable” and “unacceptable.”

After Thursday’s announcement, he demanded that the case be prioritized.

“Negotiating with a foreign adversary is no easy task, but as the administration has worked to bring home high-profile Americans like Brittney Griner, Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan — we have only asked that they also prioritize Marc’s release,” Casey said. “While Marc’s name may not be in the news every day, he is no less deserving of a reunion with his family. This is a difficult day for Marc and his family. I have not forgotten about Marc, and I will never give up on bringing him home.”

U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, concurred.

“The sad reality that Marc Fogel is not headed back to Western Pennsylvania makes this a crushing day for his family, our community and all who have been in the fight to try and bring him home,” he said. “Americans expect their government to fight for them, and I will continue to do exactly that for as long as it takes.”

The Fogel case has been a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation and commitment for local lawmakers. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler; U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters; and U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, also have been vocal in their support.

A delegation of all five legislators has been pushing the administration and State Department to prioritize Fogel’s release. The lawmakers also have demanded that the State Department be more transparent about who receives and who is denied wrongfully detained status.

The status is important because the language keeps being used in statements. During Thursday’s news conference, President Joe Biden reiterated a commitment to bringing “wrongfully detained Americans” home.

“To the American citizens who continue to be wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world, let me just be very clear, this government, this administration is not going to stop working,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing.

Senate Republicans welcomed the news of the swap but also pointed out that the deal came at a cost.

Sen. Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement: “While I am glad to see the return of these wrongfully detained Americans, we must not forget those who were left behind: Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina. The United States paid a steep price for this exchange, as those returning to Russia are some of Putin’s most valuable assets who will be glad to return to their villainous ways.”

Fogel’s family was firm in its commitment to maintaining a campaign for Marc’s release.

“We refuse to remain silent and will continue to fight for Marc,” the prepared statement said. “We demand immediate action to secure Marc’s release and call on President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Deputy Secretary Verma, and National Security Advisor Sullivan to say Marc Fogel’s name, designate him as wrongfully detained, and bring him home.

“The time for half-measures is over. We need results now.”