Mark Fogle traveled easily to Russia several times before his last return to the country in August 2021. He taught the children of most diplomats, for almost a decade, at the Anglo -American School in Moscow.
But before entering Russia, he would have his last year’s education at school before he had made a decision, Mr Fogle was arrested and accused of drug trafficking – a hemp. Less than ounces, he treated chronic back pain. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years in a high security prison. In Russia, convicted killers are often punished.
After lobbying by the US government, Mr Fogle, who is now 63 years old, was released after a year and a half on Tuesday.
Residents of Colombia, Malaysia, Oman, Venezuela and Russia, he and his wife, were conducting global adventures near Jane Retirement. But like other Americans imprisoned in Russia, such as basketball star Britney Greenler and journalist Ivan Grushkovich, he became a stimulus in the power struggle between Moscow and Washington around the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Until a year before his arrest, Mr. Foogle, like all the teachers of the Anglo -American School, was diplomatic immunity. But as the tensions with the United States increased, Russia snatched the protection teachers. In 2022, Russia forced the school to close and seized its property.
Former US diplomat Eric Robin, who knows and works to release him, said he “has a situation of being taken hostage.” He said he suspects that Russian authorities know that Mr Fogle along with his wife Jain will land at Sherimativo Airport near Moscow.
“It was definitely a setup, and this punishment was” provocatively contradictory “with penalties for Russian citizens for similar crimes, which often gains probation instead of jail time Do
Mr Fogle had a doctor’s prescription for medical marijuana and, accordingly A website that is maintained by its family“He intended to announce his medical hashish in Russian Customs.” The site says, “Mark was suffering from physical ailments that include severe waist and its affiliate knee, hip and shoulder anxiety,” and even showing pins and patches in its lower spine The X -ray also shows.
None of this has made any difference to Russian authorities, where the medical use of marijuana is not recognized – however, the family’s website says, “Earlier, Russia has given foreigners therapeutic. I had to bring marijuana with the prescription. “
Mr Foogle was prosecuted by the same court like Ms Granner, who was sentenced for similar crime and was sentenced to nine years in a fine in a fine colony. It was transferred in December 2022, after about 10 months, for a Russian weapon criminal, Victor Bout, after about 10 months.
After his conviction, Mr Fogle was sent to a remote labor camp north of Moscow, a place that made it difficult for diplomats to go, where his family said he The standard medical care is found and its “deterioration is dramatic.” Last year, he talked about his “severe health problems”, fearing that his 95 -year -old mother would never see her again, and “protect her from dying in Russian prison Hurry “.
The family was angry with the Biden administration that due to the Wall Street Journal reporter, Ms. Greshkovich, who was released last August, for not paying so much attention to Mr Fogle’s plight. It was not paid attention, or Paul Wellen, an American who was held in Russia from 2018 until he was released with Mr. Grishkovich. In fact, he said, his own government had abandoned him.
On Website Demanding his release, Mr Fogle’s supporters said that before being elected, President Trump had promised his mother that he was determined to bring Mr Fogle home. At the end of December, the State Department said that the US government had wrongly detained Mr Fogle – the move has been owed for three years.
The family said in a statement after the announcement, “Now that the US government has full strength, we should make every effort in our power to bring Mark home as soon as possible.”
Talking to the Senate verification hearing in January, Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio said it would be impossible to improve the relations between Washington and Moscow unless Mr Fogle was released.
Mr Rubio said, “If he is not willing to do so,” then I think the possibility of improving Russia-US relations is impossible. “
