Biden Speaks To Paul Whelans Family, Pledges To Work On His Release From Russia – Family

US President Joe Biden spoke on the cellphone with the household of US citizen Paul Whelan, jailed in Russia on espionage fees, pledging to place each effort to make sure his launch, David Whelan, Paul’s brother, mentioned on Saturday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 09th July, 2022) US President Joe Biden spoke on the cellphone with the household of US citizen Paul Whelan, jailed in Russia on espionage fees, pledging to place each effort to make sure his launch, David Whelan, Paul’s brother, mentioned on Saturday.

“President Biden assured me that the US government was doing all it could to bring about Paul’s safe return from his wrongful detention in Russia. We spoke for several minutes and I was touched by the President’s obvious concern and empathy for Paul’s plight and the Whelan family’s distress,” David quoted their sister, Elizabeth Whelan, who spoke with Biden, as saying.

David famous that regardless that the difficulty of Paul’s return has not been solved but and the entire household stays underneath extreme stress, he felt considerably elated to know that the president considers Paul’s case as a precedence.

“Our family is very grateful to the President for making the call. It is reassuring and we remain confident that his Administration is doing what it can for Paul. We hope that their determined effort will yield some result and that Paul will soon be home.

In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with the State Department and other agencies,” David mentioned.

On Wednesday, the Whelan household expressed frustration that Biden didn’t name them however spoke with the family of US basketball participant Brittney Griner, arrested in Russia on fees of drug possession, who sought assist in her case by writing a letter to the White House. Paul’s household accused the US authorities of inaction and lack of concern for Paul’s case.

Paul Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian and Irish citizenship, is serving his sentence in Russia’s Mordovia area. A Moscow courtroom sentenced him to 16 years in jail in June 2020 on fees of espionage. He has denied the fees however didn’t problem the decision within the hope of being a part of a possible prisoner alternate between the US and Russia.

The fees in Whelan’s case weren’t disclosed, however a press launch from Russia’s Federal Security Service mentioned he was detained in Moscow on the finish of 2018 throughout a spy operation. Whelan’s authorized protection group mentioned he was a sufferer of a provocation.