Paul Whelan on fourth anniversary of his detention in Russia


The Biden administration on Wednesday renewed its commitment to secure the releaseof American Paul Whelanon the fourth anniversary of his wrongful detention in Russia, as Whelan’s family expressed hope that he would not mark yet another milestone in Russian prison.

“Today marks four years that Paul Whelan has spent wrongfully detained, away from his family, suffering through an unfathomable ordeal,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “His detention remains unacceptable, and we continue to press for his immediate release at every opportunity.

”President Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan echoed that message, saying, “as the President and I have told the Whelan family, we will not stop, we will not relent, we will not cease until all Americans can celebrate Paul’s return.

”Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on espionage charges he has vehemently denied. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2020.US officials were unable to secure his release in prisoner swaps this past year that secured the release of two other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia: Trevor Reed in April and Brittney Griner in mid-December.

Multiple US officials said following Griner’s release that the Russians refused to negotiate a deal for Whelan, and it's been reported that Moscow repeatedly demanded a convicted murderer who is in German custody in exchange for the ex-Marine.