TL/DR –
Paul Whelan, an ex-US Marine, has spent five years in Russian detention on charges of espionage, which he vehemently denies. Over numerous phone calls with CNN from his prison camp in Mordovia, Whelan expressed his frustration and urged President Joe Biden to secure his release, feeling abandoned by his home country. Despite Whelan and his family’s recognition of the US government’s efforts for his release, their main concern is the slow progress, especially since Whelan was not included in two earlier prisoner swaps in 2022.
CNN
Former US Marine Paul Whelan marked five years in Russian detention on Thursday. In a call with CNN, Whelan urged President Biden to secure his release, comparing his situation to a hostage scenario.
Whelan expressed both hope in US efforts for his release and frustration at their lack of success. Whelan, currently in a Mordovian prison camp, has been marked as wrongfully detained by the US State Department since May 2020.
Whelan has also expressed fear for his safety in the camp, citing a recent assault by another prisoner and targeting by an official.
He was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on espionage charges which he repeatedly denies. He was sentenced in June 2020 and has been serving at the remote prison camp since.
Whelan’s detention takes a toll on his aging parents and himself, as he misses irreplaceable years and expresses concern about not seeing his family again.
The US government’s efforts to secure his release have been acknowledged by Whelan and his family. However, they are exasperated at his exclusion from previous prisoner swaps in 2022, which saw fellow wrongfully detained Americans freed.
Several proposals have been forwarded by the Biden administration for Whelan’s release. One such proposal for both Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was rejected by Russia in late November.
Russian President Vladimir Putin states an ongoing dialogue on detainees, and insists on a decision that suits both parties. US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller responded by welcoming Russia’s good faith negotiation.
Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan, expressed frustration about the efforts made and the wall they’ve hit, leaving them uncertain about the future.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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