Whelan called CNN from the colony and told Blinken about the request

American Paul Whelan, sentenced in Russia to a long term of imprisonment on charges of espionage, in August, in a telephone conversation, asked Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to secure his release. Whelan himself told CNN about this. Last Friday, he spoke to journalists by phone from the colony in Mordovia, where he is located.

According to Whelan, he told Blinken that the fact that he was not included in the previous exchange of prisoners with Russia was equivalent to the fact that “a target was drawn on his back”, and if he was not included in the next exchange, he could die in the colony Whelan noted that he had in mind his age and illness.

The American said that he believes that the United States is seeking his release, but at the same time fears that “geopolitical issues” may delay it or even remove it from the agenda. According to Whelan, the Russian authorities consider him a prisoner of “great value” and will seek to receive an equivalent in exchange for his release.

Whelan called the release of Russians Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko as it was carried out as a “mistake” by the US authorities. They were exchanged, respectively, for basketball player Brittney Greiner and former Marine Trevor Reed, who were convicted in Russia on charges unrelated to espionage. Whelan was not included in the exchange deal. At the same time, Whelan said that Blinken promised him that they would not forget him.

In August, a State Department official told CNN that no agreement had yet been reached on Whelan’s exchange. A number of mass media previously reported that Russia insists on including in the exchange Vadym Krasikov, convicted in Germany for the high-profile murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvila.

In the comment of the representative of the State Department, which is quoted by CNN, it is said that the United States “made a serious offer” to Russia regarding the release of Whelan. It is not said what it is.

According to Whelan, the conditions of his detention in the colony, where he has been for three years, have deteriorated somewhat, in particular the quality of food. He connected this with the general difficulties of the Russian economy.

Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow at the end of December 2018. Ego was accused of espionage. The court sentenced him to 16 years in prison. He denies guilt.

In addition to Whelan, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich, who was also accused of espionage, is in prison in Russia. The other day, Radio Free Europe/Radio Svoboda journalist Alsa Kurmasheva was sent to the pre-trial detention center on a criminal case of failure to register as a “foreign agent”. She has US and Russian citizenship. Whelan noted that he had heard about her case from the Russian mass media.