American Paul Whelan, who was sentenced in Russia to 16 years in prison for espionage, said he was aware of Washington’s efforts to exchange him. About this he informed CNN television channel.
Whelan noted that he remains positive and confident that “the wheels are turning.” “I just wish they could spin a little faster,” he added. He also expressed confidence that his case is a priority for the US government.
According to the American, his confidence in Washington’s abilities increased after US President Joe Biden’s public statements and the participation of Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth, in a meeting of the UN Security Council chaired by the Russian minister. of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov.
Biden specifically said his administration would not rest until Whelan was returned to his native country. According to Paul Whelan himself, all this demonstrates “not only to me, but to the whole world” that American leaders “really want” his return and are working on it. Whelan added that people and agencies in the other three countries of which he is a citizen are also involved in this process – in the UK, Ireland and Canada.
Whelan urged Russian officials to “sit down to the negotiating table with the U.S. side and sort this out quickly.” He also addressed the President of the United States.
“Please keep your promises and commitments, make my life a priority and bring me home,” he said.
In March 2023, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken informed that Washington has made a “serious offer” to Russia for the release of Whelan, and that “Moscow must accept it”. In May, this was also stated by US National Security Council Representative John Kirby.
In early May, US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy visited Whelan in the Mordovian colony and declared that the release of the American remains “an absolute priority” for Washington.
According to CNN, the United States is negotiating with other countries where the Russians have been detained to discuss the possibility of their exchange for Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested for espionage.
Paul Whelan was arrested in 2018 in Moscow. According to the prosecution, he was engaged in spying on the building of the American special services. The USB drive confiscated from him allegedly contained secret data from FSB agents. Whelan himself denies the allegations and calls them falsified. In 2020, he sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage.
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