The family of Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia, is disappointed in the Biden administration for not making him part of the biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War, his wife told Newsweek.
The U.S. State Department confirmed on Thursday that Russia was handed eight spies and agents, including political assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany for a 2019 killing in Berlin. Putin previously described him in an interview as a "patriot" who "liquidated a bandit" in "one of the European capitals."
In return, Putin freed 16 prisoners, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American citizen who was detained in Russia in March 2023, and U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, a former Marine and computer security official who has been in a Russian jail since 2018.
Besides Whelan and Gershkovich, Russia released the political prisoners Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Alsu Kurmasheva, Andrei Pivovarov, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeyeva, Rico Krieger, Kevin Lik, Demuri Voronin, Vadim Ostanin, Patrick Schoebel and German Moyzhes.
In exchange, Russia was handed Krasikov, Russian intelligence officers Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, military intelligence agents Mikhail Mikushin and Pavel Rubtsov, hacker Roman Seleznev, business owner Vladislav Klyushin and Vadim Konoshchenok. The latter identified himself as an "FSB colonel" in documents reviewed by Russian investigative site The Insider. The FSB, or Federal Security Service, is Russia's internal security and counterintelligence service.
In August 2021, Fogel was arrested on an accusation of marijuana possession and sentenced to 14 years in Russian prison. The native of Oakmont, Pennsylvania, taught overseas and was set to retire in 2021 but stayed an extra year in Russia and was ultimately detained, according to The Washington Post.
"We are devastated, and we feel that Marc has definitely been left behind," Jane Fogel, Marc's wife of 27 years, told Newsweek on Thursday. "He has not committed a crime worthy of the punishment he is enduring, and people are being set free that have done horrible things. He's an American who has been there for three years, and he should've been part of this swap."
The family, which includes sons Ethan, 27, and Sam, 25, was notified on Thursday by the Biden administration that Marc would not be released.
Asked what she would say to President Joe Biden, Jane Fogel said: "We all voted for him. We're very disappointed in the lack of communication we have had with the administration, and we're devastated Marc wasn't part of this swap."
A family statement released to the media said Marc was a lifelong history teacher from western Pennsylvania who "has been unjustly detained in Russia for the past three years for the same charges on which Brittney Griner was held."
"While Brittney was swapped within a year of her arrest for one of the world's most notorious Russian arms dealers, Marc was left behind," the statement said.
Asked about Fogel during a Thursday press conference, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel did not provide a reason for why he was not part of the deal.
"Our message is pretty simple, and that is that while today is a good day, our work doesn't stop," Patel said.
He said that the Biden administration has repeatedly called for Fogel's release and will continue to work with Moscow to make it a reality.
Many 'Did Not Give Up Hope'
Statements from Biden, his administration and others were released on behalf of the released hostages.
Biden called the swap "a feat of diplomacy" that released "political prisoners" unjustly held for years.
"All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty," he said, thanking allies that include Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey. "Today, their agony is over. This is a powerful example of why it's vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer."
He went on: "And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as president than bringing those Americans home."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the Turkish government for providing a location for the safe return of the released individuals to the U.S. and Germany.
"Through many difficult conversations over the past several years, I told the families of those wrongfully detained in Russia that we would not forget them," Blinken said. "I know there are many times over those years where they have wondered if our work would ever bear fruit. But I also know that they never gave up hope, and neither did we."
Newsweek reached out via email to the State Department and the White House for further comment.
David Whelan, who for years acted as his brother's spokesperson, noted how his sibling "was a Russian hostage" for 2,043 days. He thanked the government and the media for writing about and advocating for Paul. He added that he now wants privacy for his family.
"This is now Paul's story to tell, and I'm sure he will, in time, communicate how he wants to tell it," David wrote in a statement. "It is vital that he be given agency over his life again, something the Kremlin took away for so many years. I do not represent him.
"My work as our family spokesperson is over. Just as on December 27, 2018, our family has no need for a spokesperson. Our goal has been achieved and our part in this story is over," he said.
"We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family, as well as for the others who were released," Dow Jones CEO and Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour and Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker told Newsweek in a statement.
"At the same time, we condemn in the strongest terms Vladimir Putin's regime in Russia, which orchestrated Evan's 491-day wrongful imprisonment based on sham accusations and a fake trial as part of an all-out assault on the free press and truth. Unfortunately, many journalists remain unjustly imprisoned in Russia and around the world."
Latour and Tucker also thanked the U.S. government; numerous international governments, notably Germany; and global news media organizations standing in solidarity with Gershkovich.
"We reserve special recognition and appreciation for Evan's mother, Ella; his father, Mikhail; and his sister, Danielle, and her husband Anthony, who have been steadfast partners throughout this unthinkable ordeal," they said. "Their unwavering strength, positivity and resolve will continue to serve as an inspiration."
Update 8/2/24, 2:38 p.m. ET: This story was updated to show that Fogel did not teach overseas for 27 years.
