Arrr, me hearties! US Marine scurvy dog, Paul Whelan, be marooned in Russian brig and t'was set upon by scoundrels, says kin!
2023-11-28
Avast ye mateys! Blimey, Paul Whelan, a former landlubber of the Marines, be locked away in a Russian brig for bein' a spy. Arrr, his poor soul just got a taste o' trouble, as he be bitterly attacked by a scurvy inmate in the labor camp. Ahoy, it be a sorry tale!
Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran who has been imprisoned in Russia for several years, was attacked by another inmate at a labor camp, according to his family. The incident occurred when Paul asked the new inmate to move out of the way while he was working at a sewing table. The prisoner refused and ended up hitting Paul in the face, breaking his glasses. However, other prisoners intervened to prevent further attacks. Paul has requested to speak with local prosecutors about the incident and expressed concerns about future attacks due to anti-American sentiment among the other prisoners.The State Department expressed concern over the incident and stated that they have been in contact with Paul, who is receiving medical treatment. They called on Russia to release him and ensure the safety of all U.S. citizens detained there. Whelan was arrested in December 2018 on charges of espionage and spying for the U.S. government and was sentenced to 16 years. He has denied the charges, and the U.S. has also rejected them.
Whelan's case gained attention when he was left out of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia last year, where WNBA player Brittney Griner was freed in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia's Mordovia republic.