Ex-US diplomat Marc Fogel jailed in Russia for weed possession moved to prison camp for 'hardened criminals'

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His sister Anne Fogel told DailyMail that the former teacher was transferred to a secret location recently and that his family is no longer aware of his whereabouts. She pleaded with Joe Biden to get personally involved in her brother's case, and also she spoke with the State Department about how to have her brother's detention deemed "wrongful." His attorneys have provided him with a list of tips to help him cope with the harsh circumstances he is likely to encounter. 

Fogel's sister said, "I understand the transition process is very difficult. Just making the journey [to the camp], he is in with very hardened criminals. There is a very specific code of conduct within the prisons. He's a very perceptive person and I'm sure he will cotton on quickly, but who knows?"

She added, "They have warned him to stay away from anyone he thinks is gay because there's a particular stigma against homosexuals. I don't know how he's going to know this."

According to her, the rules among prisoners may include "everything from eye contact to how you use the toilet in the cell with all those people. It's crazy." Due to the appalling conditions, Fogel might also be required to share a bathroom with up to 50 other men and lack access to washing facilities.

Although he was in his tenth year as a teacher at the Anglo-American School at the time of his arrest, he had previously worked at the US embassy in Moscow. He and his wife Jane were traveling through the Moscow airport when security personnel with sniffer dogs went through his luggage and discovered the marijuana. 

According to Fogel, who claimed the drug was used for medical purposes, he was "unaware of Russia's ban on medical marijuana." However, authorities in the country charged him with "large-scale drug smuggling" and "large-scale illegal drug storage without a commercial purpose." The drugs were "carefully disguised," according to the Russian Interior Ministry. "Marijuana was packaged in contact lens cases, and cannabis oil was contained in e-cigarette cartridges," they said.

Marc Fogel had been detained at a facility in Moscow at first but was later transferred to Nizhny Novgorod, which was about a five-hour train ride away. Anne stated that he was transferred to an undisclosed location a week prior, and there are worries he might even be moved once again. She claimed that the US embassy was "completely hampered" and that staff there were "putting their own lives at risk."

Anna added, "I don't think that we will find him through a government agency. We are kind of counting on our lawyer and maybe we will be trying to find other people to figure out where he is. We're very worried about living conditions. He was in a cell with 15 to 20 other people. They were allowed to have a shower once per month. Who knows the last time he had a shower."

Fogel is one of several Americans being held in Russia at the moment. As ties to the West deteriorate to dangerously low levels due to the brutal war in Ukraine, families believe Moscow is holding their loved ones against their will.

In August, professional basketball player Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for bringing less than a gram of hashish oil into Russia while en route to a game. She is anticipated to formally appeal her conviction and sentence. Having been wrongfully detained on espionage charges, former US Marine Paul Whelan is also currently serving a 16-year prison term in Russia.

A State Department spokesman said of Fogel's case, "We take seriously our responsibility to assist US citizens abroad and are monitoring the situation. We continue to insist that Russia allow consistent, timely consular access to all US citizen detainees."

He added, "We urge the Russian government to ensure fair treatment and appropriate medical care for all US citizens detained in Russia. The Department continuously reviews the circumstances surrounding the detentions of US nationals overseas, including those in Russia, for indicators that they are wrongful."

As per a MEAWW report in July, Fogel is not classified as "wrongly detained" by the US, but Griner and Whelan are, the Daily Mail reported. His family hopes that he achieves that designation so that diplomatic attempts to free him are escalated. "It's terrifying," his wife Jane said, before adding, "I would hope that President Biden and especially first lady Jill Biden, who is an educator, realize the importance of including Marc in addition to Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan."

Fogel was accused of trying to bring marijuana into the country to sell to his students and was subsequently handed a 14-year sentence by a Russian judge.