Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, appeared in a video released Monday by a Kremlin-backed news network, giving his family the chance to see him for the first time in three years.
Mr Whelan, a former Marine serving a 16-year prison sentence on what US officials say are false espionage charges, has largely disappeared from view since he was sentenced by a Russian court in June 2020, although he has been visited by Western diplomats.
In the video posted by RT – an English-language state network formerly known as Russia Today – Mr Whelan can be seen in a variety of settings, including eating in a cafeteria. He appeared to be in good health and declined an interviewer’s request to ask him questions.
In an email to supporters, Mr Whelan’s twin brother, David, said Monday was “the first time I’ve seen what he really looks like since June 2020.”
“So thank you, Russia Today, because while your reporting is the worst kind of propaganda and you are the mouthpiece for war criminals, at least I could see what Paul looks like after all these years,” he wrote.
David Whelan said the video was shot in May. He added that his brother had previously informed their parents that prison officials had punished him for his refusal to participate in the interview, including taking some of his clothing.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said at a news briefing Tuesday that “it was reassuring to see him — to use his brother’s words — remain ‘unbowed.'”
“Paul continues to show tremendous courage,” said Ms Jean-Pierre. “That does not change the fact that his conditions are truly unacceptable, and we will be very clear about that. Russia must release him immediately.”
President Biden has said he is working to secure Mr Whelan’s release. The State Department spent months trying to include him in the deal that released WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested at a Russian airport shortly before the invasion of Ukraine and later pleaded guilty to drug charges.
Ms. Griner was released in December in exchange for Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer known as the ‘Death Merchant’.
Aside from diplomatic visits, Mr. Whelan, a company security manager, has limited communications to phone calls and a phone interview he did with DailyExpertNews in May.
Mr Whelan, 53, and Evan Gershkovich – a US reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested in March, also on espionage charges – have been labeled “unjustly detained” by the United States, meaning they are essentially as political hostages.
David Whelan said in an April interview that he would be “happy if the US government made whatever concessions it could to bring Paul home.”
