Key facts
- Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been released from Russian custody.
- Whelan was arrested in December 2018 and sentenced to 16 years for spying.
- He held citizenship in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland.
- The U.S. government had classified Whelan as 'wrongfully detained.'
- President Biden confirmed the release and praised the diplomatic effort.
Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been released from a Russian prison after more than five years of detention. Whelan, 54, was sentenced to 16 years in 2020 after being arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on suspicion of spying. He held citizenship in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.
His family stated that Whelan was in Russia for a friend's wedding and was arrested by the FSB. The U.S. government had designated Whelan as 'wrongfully detained,' a classification that commits the government to working for his release. He had previously been left out of prisoner exchanges that freed other Americans, including Brittney Griner.
President Joe Biden announced the release of Whelan and 15 other Westerners, describing it as 'a feat of diplomacy.' Biden had previously pledged to 'never give up' on securing Whelan's freedom. Whelan's brother, David, has dismissed the spying allegations against him.