Paul Whelan, in Russian Prison for 5 Years, Urgently Asks President Biden for Help.
Former US Marine Paul Whelan marks 5 years in Russian detention. (PHOTO: Yahoo News)
Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been stuck in a Russian jail for five years, accused of being a spy, something his family and the U.S. government say isn’t true. Whelan, 52, used to work in law enforcement and later in the car parts industry. He disappeared during a trip to Moscow in 2018 and ended up facing a secret trial, resulting in a 16-year prison sentence.
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Despite efforts by President Joe Biden’s team to bring him home, two deals made with Russia in 2022 to free Americans didn’t include Whelan. His family worries about his safety as he faces harassment from other prisoners and Russian media. Whelan’s desperate plea for freedom highlights the challenges in getting Americans released from foreign jails, leaving his loved ones anxious about what comes next.
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