Tester Calls on Biden Administration to Prioritize Freeing Marc Fogel from Russia, Designate as Wrongfully Detained

Following prisoner exchange that omitted Marc Fogel earlier this month, Tester leads bipartisan letter demanding Administration prioritize securing his release;

Senator renews call to designate Mr. Fogel as “wrongfully detained”

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today led a bipartisan letter calling on the Biden Administration to prioritize securing the release of Marc Fogel and designate him as “wrongfully detained” after he was omitted from a prisoner exchange with Russia earlier this month. Mr. Fogel, whose immediate family resides in Montana, is a U.S. citizen and career educator who has been unjustly imprisoned by Russia since August 2021.

“Designating Mr. Fogel as ‘wrongfully detained’ will underscore the political nature of his continued detention by the Russian government and the failure of humanitarian and other efforts thus far to bring about Mr. Fogel’s release,” wrote Tester and a bipartisan group of his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “It will also demonstrate that the U.S. government considers his case to be of equal importance to similar cases… Finally, it will bring to the family resources, such as a Family Engagement team, that can consistently support and communicate with Mr. Fogel’s family.”

Tester and his colleagues criticized the Administration for their lack of action on Mr. Fogel’s case, noting in their letter that, “While three years have passed since Marc’s arrest, almost two years have passed since we first wrote to you asking that you designate Marc as ‘wrongfully detained’… the Department [of State] has not provided Marc with the ‘wrongfully detained’ designation, even after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan clarified that the category of ‘those who are held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world… includes Marc Fogel.’”

Tester has been leading the push to secure Mr. Fogel’s release and reunite him with his loved ones. In June, the Senate unanimously passed Tester’s resolution calling for Mr. Fogel’s immediate release from Russia. The Tester-passed resolution urges the Biden Administration to prioritize securing the release of Mr. Fogel and all other U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are wrongfully detained by Russia.

Following Senate passage of Tester’s resolution, Mr. Fogel’s family had this to say:

“I want to thank Senator Tester and his colleagues for leading the efforts in passing Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 which calls for the immediate release of my brother Marc Fogel from prison in Russia. My brother was detained before Brittney Griner under parallel circumstances. It is now coming up on three years in which he has been left behind. He is in fragile health, and we need him home—my 95-year-old-mother needs him home,” said Anne Fogel, sister of Marc Fogel from Missoula. “Senator Tester has supported our family which includes Marc’s son Sam who lives near me in Bozeman. We are so appreciative. It is imperative that President Biden designate Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained, as he did Brittney Griner, and prioritize him in the next prisoner swap with Russia. Thank you, Senator Tester for not forgetting Marc.  Please continue pushing the Biden administration, your colleagues, and any others who can help.”

“I would like to thank Senator Tester for his continued support of my father, Marc Fogel, and the entire Fogel family.  The Senator has engaged personally with us and reached out to the administration on my father’s behalf. My dad is a proud American and a great teacher and father. He must be designated as wrongfully detained and brought home with Evan Gershkovich in the next negotiation with Russia. On behalf of my family, thank you Senator Tester for continuing the fight on behalf of my dad,” said Sam Fogel of Bozeman.

“I am so very thankful to Senator Tester for working to bring my son home. Marc Fogel is a wonderful man who has taught so many young Americans around the world. It is my greatest wish to see him again. I am so concerned about Marc’s wellbeing and health. Please do not forget about my son and our family. He deserves the same treatment as Brittney Griner. Thank you, Senator Tester for meeting with me, my daughter Anne and grandson Sam and supporting us,” said Malphine Fogel, 95-year-old mother of Marc Fogel from Butler, Pennsylvania.

Last August, Tester sent a letter to Secretary Blinken urging the State Department to designate Mr. Fogel as “wrongfully detained,” so his case can get the appropriate attention from U.S. officials.

The full text of Tester’s bipartisan letter can be read HERE.