Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines has expressed approval of the U.S. State Department's decision to designate Marc Fogel as "wrongfully detained" by Russia. This follows Daines' persistent calls for such a designation and his ongoing demand for Fogel's immediate release. Fogel, who has family ties in Montana, is currently serving a 12-year sentence in a Russian prison on charges related to marijuana possession.

Daines stated, "Marc Fogel just spent his fourth Christmas serving an unjust 14-year sentence of hard labor in a Russian prison because he was 'convicted' of outrageous drug trafficking charges." He added, "The State Department finally acknowledged what we have always known: that Marc’s arrest was politically motivated and President Biden should have immediately designated him as wrongfully detained in 2021. He should be released immediately."

The new designation will see Fogel's case handled by the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department. Daines, who will soon serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had previously introduced a bipartisan resolution urging Russia to release Fogel and also advocated for his release on the Senate floor in July 2023.

A letter from Daines and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the State Department to classify Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained.