Arrr! US swashbuckler Paul Whelan be feelin' forsaken, stuck in Russia's brig! A treacherous betrayal, matey!
2023-12-21
Arr, mateys! U.S. swashbuckler Paul Whelan be complainin' to the BBC, sayin' he feels "marooned" by his own land. He be thinkin' them fancy presidents be doin' nothin', aye, a "scandalous treachery"!
Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran who has been imprisoned in Russia for several years, expressed his fear that the United States has abandoned him and called the inaction by successive presidential administrations a "serious betrayal." In a phone interview from his prison cell, Whelan stated that he feels "abandoned" by his country, pointing out that the U.S. has engaged in prisoner swaps with Russia, including releasing female basketball player Brittney Griner. Whelan expressed his disbelief that he has been left behind by both the current Biden administration and the former Trump administration. BBC reporter Sarah Rainsford described Whelan as "pessimistic" and "frustrated" during their interview. The U.S. government spokesperson stated that they have initiated "multiple proposals" to the Russian government and are constantly discussing Whelan's situation with allies. However, Whelan claimed that the proposals made by the U.S. government are not what the Russians want. He criticized former President Donald Trump for refusing to accept a deal with Russia to secure his release. Whelan expressed his extreme stress and frustration at knowing that he could have been home years ago and called the decision to leave him behind a "serious betrayal." The U.S. government spokesperson affirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remains personally committed to securing Whelan's freedom. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement that any deal to release Americans must be mutually acceptable has further complicated Whelan's situation. Whelan's family previously reported that he was assaulted at a labor camp, and the State Department expressed concern over the incident. The White House has not yet commented on the matter.