US Ambassador to the Russian Federation Lynn Tracy visited Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage in Prison 17 in the Correctional Colony (IK) in Mordovia on Thursday (May 4th). The American Embassy in Russia wrote about this in their newspaper. twitter.
“Today Ambassador Tracy visited Paul Whelan at Penal Colony 17 in Mordovia. Paul has been wrongfully detained in Russia for several years. Its release remains an absolute priority. The US government will continue to work with the Russian authorities to return Paul home as soon as possible, ”the publication said.
Former US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken declarationWashington continues to be in contact with Moscow regarding the prisoner exchange.
On April 26, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that about 60 Russian citizens are currently in US prisons. At the same time, he mentioned a special channel to discuss prisoner exchange.
Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow in December 2018. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage and sent to a colony in Mordovia to serve his sentence. Whelan pleaded not guilty. On April 1, 2023, it was learned that Whelan was transferred to the hospital in the colony.