Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison in Russia, which the U.S. has condemned as a wrongful detention, after a small amount of medical cannabis was found in his luggage.

Fogel was arrested in 2021 while returning to Russia with his wife, Jane, and charged with smuggling marijuana he’d been prescribed in the U.S. for back pain.

Mr. Fogel, who had lived and taught in many countries, including Russia for nine years, spent 3 ½ years in Russian custody for having cannabis for medical use, and is in poor health.