Paul Whelan: 5 things to know about marine still in Russian prison after Brittney Griner’s release

• Paul Whelan is a former US Marine.
• He was imprisoned in Russia for nearly four years on espionage charges, even though the US government claims they are without merit.
• Since Brittney Griner was released on Thursday, many are wondering when Paul will also be released from Russian custody.

years ago Britney Griner was found guilty of drugs in Russia, ex-marine Paul Whelan, 52, was found guilty of espionage and is behind bars in Russia. News broke on Thursday, December 8 that the WBNA star had been released in exchange for an arms dealer. Victor’s fight and was already on its way back to the United States, according to the Associated press.

But amid the celebrations for his freedom, cries of frustration went up from family and friends who had long hoped that Paul, who has been in Russia for nearly four years, would also be freed. This is what you should know about it.

Paul worked as a corporate security executive.

At the time of his arrest, Paul was the director of global security and investigations for an international auto parts maker called BorgWarner. The company is based in Michigan. He also worked for a company called Kelly Services, also in Michigan, as IT manager for global security.

He’s a twin.

Paul has a twin brother named David Welana sister named Elizabethand another brother named andrè🇧🇷 They were partially raised in Michigan. Paul’s twin, in turn, has been made available for interviews. Of NBC4 New YorkDavid said in a statement that he’s “very happy” for Brittney, but like Paul, he’s disappointed that his brother hasn’t been released. “The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home and make the deal possible rather than wait for one that wouldn’t happen,” he said, noting that the White House would notify the family in advance of the release. by Brittney. .

And in a 2019 interview with the Detroit Free PressDavid tried to explain why Paul had so many passports. “He was probably as much of a genealogical interest as anything,” he said. “It’s one of those things where, well, you start with two, so getting two more doesn’t seem so weird.”

Pablo is deeply frustrated

In an interview at the Russian penal colony where he is serving his sentence, Paul expressed his frustration at not being released alongside Brittney. “I am very disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the fourth anniversary of my captivity approaches,” he said. Cnn since his arrest on December 28, 2018. “I was arrested for a crime that never happened. I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.

According to Cnn through the PEOPLE, He further stated that they “made him believe that things were going in the right direction”. He also thought that “something was going to happen very soon” regarding his arrest of him. Of NBC4 New YorkPresident Joe Bident said the United States “will never give up” in the fight to bring Paul home. “It wasn’t a choice which American to take home,” he said, according to the channel. “Unfortunately, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently from Brittney’s.”

He could spend up to 16 years in the Russian penal colony.

Although initially detained in 2018, it was in 2020 that Paul was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison for crimes in the United States and according to Paul that did not happen. The US government has also described him as “wrongfully detained,” according to NBC4 New York🇧🇷 He reportedly attended the wedding of a fellow naval officer, which was to be held at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. The security director was arrested in his hotel room after allegedly spending time with a Russian national and receiving a flash drive containing “confidential” information he did not know was contained on the drive, according to his lawyer .

Paul was born in Canada

Though indelibly associated with the United States, Paul Whelan holds citizenship in no fewer than four countries, according to his official representative. wikipedia page. He was born in Ottowa, Canada to British parents of Irish descent. In addition to his obvious US citizenship, the former Marine also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship. He is also known to travel extensively, and frequently to Russia.

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