Oakmont resident and teacher Marc Fogel has been detained in Russia for nearly two years after he was arrested at the Moscow airport for having 17 grams of medical marijuana, which he had been prescribed to treat chronic pain from a spinal condition.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House unanimously passed a resolution in support of Fogel, as well as other U.S. citizens detained in Russia.

The resolution stated in part that Fogel “faces a politicized, excessive sentence for his alleged offense,” and the House condemns the Russian government for its continued use of detentions and prosecutions of American citizens and lawful permanent residents for “political purposes.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, said he has met with Fogel’s family and promised them that he will continue to advocate for Fogel’s return to the United States.

“Now, we are taking our work directly to the House floor and making it clear that the entire House of Representatives supports Mr. Fogel,” Kelly said. “There is still much more work to be done.”

The resolution explicitly called for the release of two other Americans who have been detained in Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Both men have been designated “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. State Department.

While the House resolution indicates support for Fogel, it does not call for Fogel to be designated wrongfully detained. The White House also has failed to designate Fogel, despite repeated calls.

Fogel is being held in a hard-labor penal colony, according to his family.

A number of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation — including Kelly, U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton — has been calling on the State Department to designate Fogel as wrongfully detained.

They were joined by U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, on Tuesday. Deluzio’s district covers Fogel’s residence, and he urged the Biden administration to provide Fogel with the official designation and called for Fogel’s immediate release from Russia.

“Mr. Fogel and his loved ones deserve to know that their government hears them and is using every tool available to return him to the United States,” Deluzio said. “That means designating his status accurately, and I hope it will end with getting Marc Fogel out of a Russian forced labor camp and home with his family where he belongs.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)