Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018, in a recent phone call. According to CBS News, Blinken expressed his commitment to bringing Whelan home as soon as possible and encouraged him to stay hopeful. This marks the second time that the top U.S. diplomat has spoken directly with Whelan.
In another development, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison. Despite his circumstances, Gershkovich remains in good health and displays resilience, as reported by a State Department spokesperson. This visit comes after months of protests by the U.S. to gain access to Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges without substantial evidence.
The United States has been actively negotiating for the release of both Whelan and Gershkovich, whom they consider to be wrongfully detained. However, discussions have yet to provide a clear pathway towards a resolution, as stated by national security adviser Jake Sullivan in July. President Biden has expressed his seriousness about pursuing a prisoner exchange and helping Americans illegally held in Russia or any other country.
It is worth noting that the U.S. previously secured the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Trevor Reed, both of whom were wrongfully detained in Russia following Whelan’s arrest. However, concerns have been raised that Whelan may be left behind as the U.S. seeks the release of Gershkovich. Whelan is currently serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges in Mordovia, which the U.S. denies.
Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, described the difficult phone call with Whelan after Griner’s release. He assured Whelan that the U.S. is doing everything possible to bring him home and emphasized their unwavering commitment to his repatriation.
Overall, the U.S. government, including Secretary of State Blinken and President Biden, remains actively engaged in resolving the cases of Whelan and Gershkovich. The hope is to secure their release and ensure their safe return to the United States.
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