Former Marine Detained in Russia Appeals to President Biden for Help
Washington
It was a desperate plea from the 53-year-old former Marine detained on espionage charges, and a direct appeal to President Biden following the release of two other Americans — Marine veteran Trevor Reed and WNBA star Brittney Griner — from Russian detainment last year.
Mr. Biden is "the guy that made the decision to leave me behind twice," Whelan said. "He's the man that can bring me home."
Whelan last week also gave a phone interview to the BBC in which he described his situation as "a serious betrayal."
The native of Novi, Michigan, was first detained by Russian authorities in December 2018 while attending a friend's wedding. He was convicted in 2020 of espionage and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor.
Both Whelan and the U.S. government have dismissed the charges as "baseless." The U.S. considers him wrongfully detained.
"Mr. President, you promise to bring me home," Whelan pleaded. "I'm still here. There has to be more that you can do to secure my release."
Whelan continues to be held in a penal colony located in the remote Russian province of Mordovia, which is approximately 350 miles east of Moscow. According to his brother, he was recently assaulted by another inmate, although he did not sustain any serious injuries.
Another individual currently detained in Russia is 32-year-old Evan Gershkovich.
In a statement released on Monday, Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, affirmed that President Biden considers the safe return of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, including Paul Whelan, to be of utmost importance.
In her statement, Watson reiterated what the State Department previously disclosed — that the U.S. has made "significant offers" to Russia for Whelan and Gershkovich, "including one earlier this month" that was rejected by Russia.
"We also continue our conversations with third party countries as we work to find a way to secure their release," Watson added.
