Marc Fogel

Marc Fogel was a teacher, just like the ones who help you learn at school. He was born a long, long time ago, in 1961. He loved to travel and see new places. One day, he was on his way to visit Russia, a very big country far away. He was excited to explore, but something unexpected happened that changed his whole trip!

When Mr. Fogel tried to go into Russia, the people at the border found something in his bag. It was a tiny amount of medicine called medical cannabis. It's a special kind of plant that some doctors say can help people feel better. But in Russia, it's against the rules to bring it in, even a little bit. This mistake led to a very long and difficult time for him.

Because of the rules, Mr. Fogel was arrested. He ended up staying in Russia for a very, very long time. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. That's longer than you've been alive! He missed his home and his family. It was a sad situation, and everyone hoped he would be able to come back home soon.

After a long wait, something wonderful happened! On February 11, 2025, Mr. Fogel was finally allowed to go home. Imagine how happy he must have been to see his family and friends again. His story reminds us that it's super important to always follow the rules, especially when we are visiting new countries.