The arrest of an American in Russia last August resembles the case of Brittney Griner.

With the spotlight on the case of Brittney Griner, the American basketball star detained in Russia since February, the sentencing of a former employee of the American Embassy in Russia the month last on similar drug-related charges his relatives also pleaded for him to be allowed to return home.

Marc Fogel, a teacher who previously worked for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow was found guilty of drug trafficking, according to his family and Russian media. He was sentenced in June — by the same court handling Ms Griner's case — to 14 years in a high-security penal colony.

Mr. Fogel, 60, worked at the Anglo-American School in Moscow and was arrested in August when customs officers at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport found marijuana in his luggage after arriving from New York. The cannabis, according to a statement from the Russian Interior Ministry, had been packed in a container containing contact lenses, and cannabis oil was also found in e-cigarette cartridges.

In a statement shared by Mr. Fogel's wife, Jane, his family said he was carrying less than 20 grams of marijuana, which they say was recommended to him by a doctor in the United States to help treat a long-term, debilitating spinal condition.

Mr. Fogel pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling and illegal possession, transportation and production of drugs, according to the family statement, which called the 14-year sentence 'grossly disproportionate' to other court cases involving similar amounts of marijuana.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The Russian Interior Ministry said Mr. Fogel and his wife have diplomatic status until May 2021, and that Mr. Fogel could have used this status to open a drug trafficking route to Moscow. His family's statement called the allegations "outrageous and patently untrue" and said Mr Fogel had "an exemplary record as a teacher".

“It is clear that Marc is the victim of politically motivated prosecution aimed at stimulating anti-American xenophobia among the Russian population,” he added.

Mr Fogel has not had consular access since November, according to the family statement.He said he had since been diagnosed with anxiety and depression while in custody, and he accused Russian authorities to ignore Mr. Fogel's repeated requests for medical assistance.Although Mr. Fogel's Russian lawyer requested medical records from his detention center, they were told that none existed, according to the release.

Unlike Ms. Griner's case, the Biden administration has not publicly classified Mr. Fogel as "wrongfully detained," a designation that would place his case under the supervision of the presidential special envoy for hostage affairs.

A spokesperson for the department of State said in an email that US officials were aware of and monitoring the detention of a US citizen in Russia, but declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns.

Speaking outside the courtroom where Ms Griner's trial was taking place on Thursday, Elizabeth Rood, Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Moscow, said the The Biden administration had pledged to bring home "all wrongfully detained American citizens". Ms. Rood made no specific mention of Mr. Fogel, and U.S. officials have not commented publicly on his sentencing.