Kremlin Big Floats U.S.-Russian Prisoner Swap as Paul Whelan Languishes in Moscow Jail
MOSCOW—The U.S. Embassy in Russia said Monday it is worried that the health of American prisoner Paul Whelan is deteriorating in a Moscow prison—as a Kremlin official signaled renewed interest in a possible inmate exchange.
Whelan, 49, a private security executive from Michigan, was arrested in Moscow in December, accused of espionage, and thrown in the notorious Lefortovo prison to await trial. He claims he was in Russia for a friend’s wedding, was not involved in intelligence work, and was framed by someone who gave him a flash drive he thought contained holiday photos.
Last month, the ex-Marine pleaded for President Trump to help free him. When Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met last week, if they discussed Whelan or any other kind of prisoner exchange, it was not mentioned in official accounts.