Paul Whelan, a US Marine currently being held in Russia, spoke by phone to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, though it appears no progress has been made in releasing him.
Blinken told Whelan to “keep the faith and we’re doing everything we can to get you home as soon as possible,” CNN reported, citing a source.
It comes on the same day that Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said Moscow and Washington are using an effective conduit to exchange prisoners in his commentary on Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Whelan, both imprisoned in Russia.
“The issue of prisoner exchange will be resolved by competent bodies that presidents have agreed upon in 2021,” Antonov was quoted as saying in his official channel on the Telegram app.
“The special channel proved effective,” he said, referring to the prisoner exchange
Paul Whelan, a US Marine currently being wrongfully detained in Russia, spoke by telephone to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, though no progress appears to have been made in releasing him.
The Biden administration had hoped to secure Whelan’s release during the prisoner exchange negotiations that finally freed American basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison in December.
Analysts have noted that Moscow may be using captured Americans as bargaining chips as US-Russian tensions rise over the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine.
Whelan was arrested in 2018, served 18 months in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison and in 2020 received 16 years in prison on espionage charges. He has denied the allegations.
The United States has labeled Whelan as “unjustly detained,” a term that basically says the charges are bogus and the case is politically driven.
The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, visited Whelan in May in the East Russian prison where he was being held.
Whelan, who has American, Irish, British and Canadian nationality, was detained by Russian authorities in December 2018 on charges of involvement in an espionage operation.
Despite vehement denial of the espionage charges, the former US Marine was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Whelan’s confidence in US efforts to free him stems in part from the public messages he has seen, including President Joe Biden’s comments at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Blinken told Whelan to ‘keep the faith and we’re doing everything we can to get you home as soon as possible’
Whelan, who holds American, Irish, British and Canadian nationality, was detained by Russian authorities in December 2018 on charges of involvement in an espionage operation
In addition to his career in the Marines, Whelan was also a police officer in Chelsea, Michigan
Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth, attended a UN Security Council meeting chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in April, further cementing his optimism about his release.
“I will say that the comments President Biden made at the press corps dinner were very, very encouraging,” Whelan noted. Biden said the government would not stop fighting for him “until we get him home.”
Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth, attended a meeting of the United Nations Security Council chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, further boosting his optimism.
The prisoner expressed gratitude for the public displays and events related to his case as they show him and the world that leaders are affected by his situation and are actively working for his release.
He also highlighted the tremendous inter-agency cooperation in his four countries where he is a citizen.
“It was funny because we were standing here in prison watching TV and watching my sister speak at the UN, and everyone was mesmerized that things like this could happen. And I said, “You know, in America and in Canada, England, Ireland, this is the kind of thing we do. We have the freedom to speak out and to speak in a place like the UN.” But it is unprecedented. I thank everyone who has been involved,” Whelan said.
“The public displays and events like the press corps dinner and the UN visit show not only me, privately, but to the world that our leaders are affected by this, and they want me back, and they are working to try to get me to house.
Whelan pictured with his parents during a visit to Russia in 2009
Whelan served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 2003-2008, mostly as an administrative clerk in Iraq
“When you look at all the people and all the agencies in my four countries who are working on this, it’s incredible, and I think they’re going to pull it off.”
Blinken has publicly stated that the US has submitted a “serious proposal” to secure Whelan’s release, with the US State Department insisting that there is “no higher priority” than securing the release of both Whelan and Gershkovich .
During his call to CNN, Whelan appealed directly to President Biden to continue his efforts to secure his freedom.
‘Mr. President, I have been held hostage for over 52 months and the only crime I have committed in Russia is that I am a US citizen,” he said.
Freedom is not free, it has a price. But the loss of freedom costs even more, and I pay that price every day Russia detains me.
“Please, keep your promises and commitments, really make my life a priority and take me home. Thank you.’
Whelan’s brother, David, expressed relief at hearing the positivity in Paul’s voice during the CNN interview.
“I think we’re concerned about his mental health and his morale and his ability to go from day to day until something is resolved, so that all sounded very positive,” he said.
“I think we have waited a long time since Minister Blinken made the comment that a substantial offer had been made to the Kremlin and that the Kremlin had not responded. We’ve waited months.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was released in December after a prisoner exchange with Russia
American journalist Evan Gershkovich, 31, is also currently being held by Russian authorities
“I’m sure they don’t forget that Paul has to wait every day for them to take action, but I wish they would act faster and more decisively and bring Paul and other Americans home.”
At the time of his arrest, Whelan was head of global security for BorgWarner, a Michigan auto parts supplier.
Born in Ottawa, Canada, Whelan was born to British parents of Irish descent who moved to the city of Novi, Michigan in his childhood.
Whelan served in the Marine Corps from 2003-2008, mostly as an administrative clerk in Iraq.
During his time in the military, Whelan took advantage of a program where members were given a two-week vacation, all expenses paid.
The Michigan man chose to go to Russia, saying it was ideal for a “single guy like me.”
His first trip to Russia took place in 2007. Last November, a Russian court denied his request to serve his sentence in the United States.