U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has visited American citizen Paul Whelan in a prison in eastern Russia. "Paul has been wrongfully detained in Russia for more than 4 years, and his release remains an absolute priority. The U.S. government will continue to engage Russian authorities on his case so Paul can come home as soon as possible," the embassy said on Twitter on May 4. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in December 2018, held for 18 months in Lefortovo prison in Moscow, and then jailed for 16 years on spying charges. He has denied the accusations.
U.S. Ambassador To Russia Visits American Paul Whelan In Prison
Imprisoned former U.S. marine Paul Whelan (file photo)