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Former US Marine Paul Whelanimprisoned in Russia since 2018 and accused of espionage, said Thursday in an interview with CNN that he was disappointed with the government for not having done more to free him.
The same day that the American basketball player Brittney Griner was delivered to the US, Whelan he welcomed Griner’s release, but regretted that more had not been done to lead him down the same path.
LOOK HERE: Biden meets with relatives of Americans imprisoned in Russia
The United States and Russia carried out a prisoner exchange between Griner and the Russian arms dealer Victor But.
Hours before the words of Whelanthe Secretary of State of the North American country, Anthony Blinkenensured that the United States “will not stop” until the release of the ex-marine.
“We have made every possible offer in our power to secure Paul’s release, but there has been no way to bring him home to Brittney.”said blinken during a press conference in Washington.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that the Russian authorities have given a different treatment to the case of Whelanaccused of espionage, regarding the grinnerarrested last February for carrying cannabis oil in her suitcase.
And with the exchange of prisoners this Thursday, the US government had to choose between “bring one or none”, he claimed.
The Secretary of State promised that the Government of Joe Biden it remains “absolutely committed” with obtaining the release of Whelan, sentenced to 16 years in prison and whose fragile state of health has been repeatedly denounced by his lawyers.
“We are in contact with his family and we will continue working. We won’t stop until Paul is home.”asserted blinken.
MORE INFORMATION: Russia “willing” to discuss with the US the exchange of prisoners after the conviction of Brittney Griner
Russia and the US today completed one of the most notorious and unequal swaps in recent years by exchanging basketball player BRittney Grinerconvicted of possession of cannabis, by the arms dealer known as the “merchant of death”, Victor Butwho was serving 25 years in a US prison.
“He is safe, he is on a plane. He comes back home ”, announced on Twitter Biden alluding to Griner.
but he was pardoned by Biden and Griner by Russian President Vladimir Putin, paving the way for their exchange on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
