In a plea to President Joe Biden, Paul Whelan, a former Marine who recently marked his fifth Christmas in a Russian penal colony, has urged the President to take decisive action and expedite his return home.
Whelan addressed the President as "Mr. President" and claimed a promise was made to bring him home. In a statement, Whelan expressed his concern regarding the failure of diplomatic efforts and the perceived lack of action being taken to secure his release from the highest levels of authority.
Paul Whelan Urges Biden to Man Up
Paul Whelan, a former US marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia in December 2018, stands inside a defendants' cage as he waits to hear his verdict in Moscow on June 15, 2020.
As stated in the holiday message, the former marine expressed his disbelief at being left behind. Meanwhile, President Biden has reportedly approved a deal that resulted in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison. The agreement, which took place in December 2022, involved the exchange of Griner for Viktor Bout, a notorious arms trader known as the "Merchant of Death."
According to the White House, Moscow was reportedly unwilling to release Whelan at the time. The White House also assured that they would persist in their efforts to secure his freedom.
In April, the administration reached an agreement for yet another prisoner swap. This time, the swap involved the release of Russian drug trafficking pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko in exchange for Trevor Reed, a former Marine.
In a scathing message, Whelan vehemently criticized President Biden, referring to him as "the individual responsible for abandoning me not once, but twice."
Paul Whelan, who was attending a friend's wedding in Moscow, found himself in the clutches of the law. On December 28, 2018, he was apprehended and slapped with charges of espionage. In June 2020, a verdict was reached, and he was handed a 16-year prison sentence.
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US-Russia Prisoner Swap
Per NY Post, both he and the US government have categorically denied Russia's claims. Whelan is currently detained at a labor camp located in Russia's Mordovia Republic, situated approximately 350 miles to the east of Moscow. In a shocking incident last month, he fell victim to an assault perpetrated by a fellow inmate, resulting in significant injuries.
According to the detainee, there seems to be a personal vendetta from the labor camp's deputy warden towards him. This alleged grudge stems from Whelan's refusal to pay a sum of $1,100, which the detainee refers to as "protection money."
According to Whelan, he alleges that an individual has orchestrated deliberate provocations in an attempt to cause him harm as a form of retaliation for the person facing consequences.
In a bid to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg on spying charges in March, the United States is actively pursuing diplomatic efforts. Both the reporter's employer and the government have vehemently denied the accusations, The Independent reported.
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