Marine veteran Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia for the past three years on espionage charges, has appeared in a video released by a Kremlin-backed news network. The video shows Whelan in various settings, including a cafeteria, but he declined to answer any questions. Whelan’s twin brother expressed gratitude for the video, as it was the first time he had seen his brother since 2020. Whelan has been designated as “wrongfully detained” by the Biden administration. In the video, Whelan is seen in prison uniform and engaging in activities with other inmates. Whelan’s family claims that the prison staff retaliated against him for refusing to participate in the filming. The Biden administration has been working to secure Whelan’s release, but he remains imprisoned.
