The U.S. government has declared Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained.
LISTEN: Marc Fogel's mother speaks with KDKA Radio after prisoner swap
It's a status that will provide Fogel and his family additional resources as they work for his release from a Russian prison.
Fogel's family had filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of State alleging the government was treated Fogel differently than others who had been previously held in Russia.
The lawsuit has since been dropped.
A wrongfully detained designation brings with it resources for the family, including medical care, mental health services and financial support.
Fogel's 95-year-old mother, Malphine Fogel, told Michael Bartley on KDKA Radio back in August, after a historic prisoner swap with Russia (that did not include Fogel) that she had her doubts about her son being a priority for the Department of State.
“I’m a little dubious, I want to see the action,” said Malphine. “We have not had anything personal said to us or had any communication with the White House. So, I have to hear that before I make a decision about how serious they are about this.”
Malphine said she spoke with her son after the prisoner swap.
“It’s so hard to talk because you are so emotion and he is too,” said Malphine. “I’m sure he expected to be in this latest transaction and I’m sure that, by now, he’s just beaten down.”
The 63-year-old Oakmont teacher just marked his third year in a Russian penal colony after being arrested in August 2021 for possession of 17 grams of medical marijuana.