Former US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been wrongfully detained in Russia since 2018, has urged the Biden administration to expedite his release.
Whelan, who was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and is serving a 16-year prison sentence for espionage, maintains his innocence. Speaking to CNN from a prison camp in Mordovia, Whelan expressed his confidence that the wheels are turning but said he wished they would turn more quickly.
The U.S. State Department has suggested that a prisoner swap with Russia would be the most realistic path to secure Whelans release, but the U.S. has been left without a comparable trading candidate for Whelan and other Americans after exchanging Viktor Bout for WNBA star Britney Griner in December.
Marine veteran Trevor Reed was also released during a prisoner exchange last year. Whelan told CNN that the detention of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich has left him fearing for his future.
Whelan, who also holds British and Irish citizenship, said that he has the usual aches and pains of forced labor and poor living conditions. He cited President Bidens public pronouncements and his sister Elizabeth Whelans presence at a UN Security Council meeting chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as reasons for his renewed optimism.
Whelan appealed directly to Biden, saying, Mr. President, Ive been held hostage for more than 52 months, and the only crime I have committed in Russia is that of being an American citizen. Freedom is not free, it comes at a price. But the loss of freedom is even more costly, and I pay that cost every day Russia holds me. Please follow through with your promises and commitments, truly make my life a priority, and get me home. Thank you very much.
Whelans brother, David, said he was really pleased to hear the positivity in his brothers voice. I think we are worried about his mental health and his morale and his ability to keep going day to day until something is resolved, so all of that sounded very positive, he told CNNs Jim Acosta after the interview aired.
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