US Deputy State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed his situation with Paul Whelan, an American convicted of espionage in the Russian Federation, and confirmed Washington’s desire to secure his release. It has been reported DEA News.
According to Patel, Blinken was able to hear directly from Whelan about his condition and let him know that United States President Joe Biden was determined to do everything possible to save the American.
Prior to that, John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council declarationHe said the United States will continue to demand the release of American citizens Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, who are imprisoned in the Russian Federation.
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.
previously in the USA questioned The rigidity of the Russian “red lines”.