Since entering Russian custody, Whelan has faced changing conditions. They also said he owed Whelan around 80,000 roubles ($1,147; 930) which the FSB claimed was advance payment for intelligence. : Griner had been imprisoned in Russia since February, when she was accused of entering the country with vape cartridges that contained less than a gram of cannabis oil, which is illegal in the country. The surge in East-West tensions has made espionage both more complex - and more urgent - in recent years. [36][e], On June 15, 2020, Whelan was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison for espionage by a court in Moscow. "Family of American Prisoner Paul Whelan Backs Griner Deal." He's the kindest soul! ", US envoy visits spy suspect held in Russia, Brother of detained American speaks. It was due to his knowledge of Russia that he had been asked to attend the wedding of a fellow former marine in Moscow in December 2018, his brother David told the BBC's Newshour after his arrest. Read about our approach to external linking. The three judges swept off the podium and out of court. "[14] A few weeks later, Zherebenkov said Whelan had been unaware of the contents of the USB drive and believed it contained material solely of personal value such as "photographs, videos, anything at all, about his previous holiday in Russia. Russian authorities claim the 48-year-old American, who is being held in Lefortovo Prison, was working as a spy. Moscow Paul Whelan, Before that he spent 14 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before being discharged in 2008 for bad conduct, according to the military. So no evidence - the wire taps or surveillance footage the case is reportedly based on - has been made public. Concern for Whelan flared up again in November after he was not able to contact his family for more than a week and Russian authorities claimed he had been sent to a hospital. Yes. officer Whelan stated that he was in Russia to attend a friends wedding, and he knew that the flash drive contained some holiday photos he had received. Perhaps Whelan enjoyed the element of danger that came from flirting with the FSB, hanging out with intelligence officers. Paul Whelan, the U.S. citizen and former Marine detained in Russia on espionage charges, was reportedly convicted of attempting to steal roughly ten grand from Uncle Sam while deployed to Iraq in 2006, according to the Washington Post. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges, was visiting Moscow over the holidays to attend a wedding when he suddenly disappeared, his brother said Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Earlier this year, American Trevor Reed, a former Marine who was detained in 2019, was exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot who was convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison. He was caught for bad conduct during his marine service. New details have emerged about the military history Novi businessman Paul Whelan, who has been accused of spying in Russia. "Had this been an independent court, they would have reached only one decision - not guilty," his lawyer, Vladimir Zherebyonkov said after the verdict. "My grandfather came from Ireland to England and my father came from England to Canada, and that's where we were born. David Whelan, Pauls brother, said in a statement that U.S. officials told them on Wednesday that Paul wouldnt be part of the exchange that freed Griner and expressed pessimism about the chance of seeing his brother go free. [32], On January 3, 2019, Whelan's attorney, Vladimir Zherebenko,[d] said he was seeking his release on bail. Meanwhile, the front page of his website invited visitors to click on the image of a young Russian soldier to learn more about his "hobbies and military service". At that, the judge ordered the TV cameras to be removed from court. Whelan, his family and the U.S. government have repeatedly stated that the charges are baseless and that he was framed. At the time, he was identified only as an American but officials say Whelan also has British citizenship. 6 Top-Notch Dental Courses Online for Beginners in 2023, What is a Token Burn? Some observers have said they believe Whelan's arrest was made on flimsy grounds and is likely retribution for the arrest of a suspected Russian spy. The case was immediately big news that grew further when it emerged that Whelan was a citizen of four countries. One friend who didn't want to be named told me he was "a little quirky", and liked to "push the line a bit". The appropriate social media access links are given below. Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313-222-5997 or kshamus@freepress.com. Was Paul Whelan given a bad-conduct discharge from the Marines? He said a trial would not begin for at least six months, and that he would welcome an exchange of Whelan for Butina. In December 2018, while on a trip to attend a friend's wedding in Russia, Whelan was detained by Federal Security Service (FSB) agents. Why was Paul Whelan discharged from military service? Whelan, 48, was arrested Friday in Moscow, and was charged with espionage. Currently a corporate security expert, Whelan made several trips to Russia, had Russian friends, was reportedly learning Russian, and has been using Russian social media for years, CNN and the Post reported. After news of Griners release Thursday, U.S. officials lamented not being able to secure Whelans release, but said they were continuing the efforts. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. "This is 'Lubyanka' where the KGB has our spies locked in the basement!! Then-Staff Sgt. Such a punishment generally disqualifies a former Marine from receiving Veterans Affairs benefits. "We are not looking for an exchange, we are looking for justice for Paul," US Ambassador John Sullivan insisted, emerging from the verdict at Moscow City Court to a wall of microphones and cameras. [47][48] His twin brother David ascribed Paul's acquisition of the multiple nationalities to "probably a genealogical interest as much as anything. In 2008, Paul was discharged from the Marines for his. One replied to tell me he'd been a student and supermarket night-guard when the American first made contact. He received a Bad Conduct Discharge as the result of a UCMJ Courts Martial. Specifically, he received a "Bad Conduct Discharge" handed down by a special court martial. Dan McCafferty Nazareth: Know Cause of Death! Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. Another link leads to a homemade guide to the Cyrillic alphabet and some basic first words in Russian. One light remains on in the cell 24/7. The link led to Maxim, who explained that his new friend, Paul Whelan, was helping with his English which he planned to study at university. Labelling it "Dinner with Tovarishi", or comrades, he messaged the image to a third Russian friend - even as he was supposedly discussing how to transfer classified intelligence. 2023 BBC. A national security official said Thursday that Whelan was never really an option for the Russians during the negotiations about freeing Griner, and that due to the nature of the espionage charges against him, Russians rejected all the proposals U.S. officials presented them. Since his first visit in 2006, Mr Whelan made a number of other trips to Russia and developed an in-depth knowledge of the country. [7] A former colleague said he was a patrol officer from 1998 to 2000 in the Keego Harbor police department. (Video: Rich Matthews/The Washington Post), Essential reporting from around the world. So the prisoner who has always called himself a political hostage is now looking to the politicians to do a deal for his release. For his crimes, he was ultimately discharged from the Marine Corps for bad conduct, a ruling he unsuccessfully attempted to appeal. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. He took a military leave of absence from Kelly Services, he testified, to serve in Iraq. There was a lot of speculation about this and there was hope [that] Paul and his family had hoped he would finally return home to his very elderly parents, his lawyer Olga Karlova told The Post. Check Wiki to Know About Solana Valley NFT (Sep 2021) Token price & How To Buy! Though he has been described as being held in "solitary confinement", "But even with food, we were told that we might want to give him extra money. "[They'd say] things like, 'There's no hope for you, tell us the truth. Britains foreign secretary says that Russia is trying to use him as a pawn in its geopolitical games. Also, the readers can find theUnited Statesgovernments reaction to Paul Whelans arrest. Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. The Salisbury poisoning: What happened next? The US has said repeatedly the two men were convicted in open and fair trials. If he's a spy, then I'm Michael Jackson!!!!" Filming was barred at all future hearings to stop the press capturing any more protests. "But it was very unusual.". He previously identified himself as a former sheriff deputy, which Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Jr. met with Whelan at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. Relations between Moscow and London are at a low point in the wake of Britains allegations that Russian military intelligence agents were behind the nerve-agent poisoning of a Russian former double agent and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury in March. "The FSB thing wasn't a big deal, until he was entrapped.". As he still works for the FSB, I can't identify him so I'll call him "Dmitry". Russia would later insinuate, via anonymous sources quoted in the press, that the CIA had selected candidates for Paul Whelan to cultivate for intelligence. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant in December 2004 and was deployed in the war against Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006. More details on Whelans professional life, Wisconsin Volleyball Team Leaked Nudes Reddit: Check Links for Pictures, Cryptopunk NFT Price (Aug 2021) How To Buy? His attorney, Vladimir Zherebenkov, has said his client unwittingly received a flash drive containing state secrets while visiting Russia for a wedding in 2018. He is currently facingChargesof16 years imprisonmentunder the IK-17 penal colony of the Mordovia region, located in east Moscow. Are you on Telegram? From 2010 to 2016 Whelan was Kelly Services' senior manager of global security and operations. Paul Whelan arrives handcuffed and holds a personal statement up in court, Paul Whelan was a US police officer when he was younger, Paul Whelan as a US marine and the front gate at his parents' property, The town of Sergiev Posad is home to the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church - the Trinity Lavra of St Sergius, Paul Whelan's lawyers Vladimir Zherebyonkov and Olga Karlova, Norwegian citizen Frode Berg in a Moscow courtroom, January 2019, US Ambassador John Sullivan outside court after Paul Whelan's sentencing, The high wall and barbed wire of Lefortovo jail, The K-shaped buildings of Moscow's Lefortovo prison, Undated photo of Konstantin Yaroshenko (left) and Viktor Bout in 2010. [27], Former CIA officers have stated that the CIA would not recruit an officer with Whelan's military record, nor leave an officer exposed without a diplomatic passport. Almost two months had passed since his arrest, and he said he was coping "fine". WebPaul Whelan may refer to: . His website describes his "respect and admiration" for three Naval Academy graduates who'd just joined the Marines. Join our brand new verified AMN Telegram channel and get important news uncensored! he asked. There was also speculation over other possible motives for the arrest - including a suggestion Mr Whelan was detained so he could be exchanged with Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights activist, who was jailed in the US in December 2018. We dont know exactly why [he hasnt been added], maybe because he is too valuable for the swap, and theyve decided to hold him for longer, she added. After the Salisbury poisoning in early 2018, more than 100 Russian diplomats identified as intelligence agents were expelled from embassies around the world in a co-ordinated act of protest. Whelan also worked as a Chelsea police officer from 1988-2000 as well as for the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, hetestified in a2013 court deposition. "And a catastrophe for Paul". [4], Whelan lived in Novi, Michigan, prior to detainment in Russia.[49]. "Paul Whelan is innocent," Ambassador John Sullivan told me emphatically last week, calling the trial a "mockery of justice". he wrote. [21], According to the Russian news agency Rosbalt[ru], Whelan was apprehended in his hotel room at the Metropol Hotel while concluding a long outing with a Russian citizen, who handed him a USB drive containing "a list of all the employees at a classified security agency". ", he joked in 2007 on a personal website. He's someone I've known for ten years," he revealed for the first time. The American, whose glasses, side parting and blue sweater that he wore to each court appearance gave him the look of a neat, middle-aged librarian, looked back at the judge blankly. Its pages document the trip with shots of tourist spots and captions laden with exclamation marks. At Kelly Services, his title was senior manager of global security and investigations. governments reaction to Paul Whelans arrest. Paul Whelan, the U.S. citizen and former Marine detained in Russia on espionage charges, was reportedly convicted of attempting to steal roughly ten grand from Uncle Sam while deployed to Iraq in 2006, By The Michigan native was not part of the prisoner swap which saw Ms Griner exchanged for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout - an omission that his brother has called a "catastrophe for Paul". He left the company in 2016 and started working for BorgWarner, an Auburn Hills-based auto supplier, in 2017, according to company spokeswoman Kathy Graham. I did not commit a crime," Whelan said, telling me that a friend had turned-up at his hotel that evening unannounced. He got in touch with his parents Dec. 2., in what Whelans brother described as a proof of life call, according to the Associated Press. WebOn June 15, 2020, Whelan was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison for espionage by a court in Moscow. A Twitter post by Benny Johnson states that President Biden chose Brittney Grinner in the prisoner swap over Paul Whelan. The US government speculated the return of Paul Whelan for Maria Butina from Russia, a gun activist. "He seemed nice and was fascinated by our country, its history and our traditions and people!" [22], The BBC cited family members of Whelan, who said he previously bragged about knowing an agent of the FSB, and was privy to an unusual cache of personal details about his friend, including which intelligence training school he attended (biographical information typically reserved for a very close circle). "I will be with guys from the FSB, so should be okay! "It just wouldn't happen," Fayhee believes. He wondered whether some comment, or joke might have been disastrously misconstrued. "I don't know if it was machismo; to show off," Fietsam said. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Her release was secured via a prisoner exchange in which U.S. authorities released convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. [19] David said the family had not known Paul had a bad conduct discharge. So, at a court hearing late last year, I raised my voice over a wall of bailiffs to ask him once again what had happened. It was while serving in the marines that he made his first trip to Russia, a visit he detailed on his website, which was shut down several years ago. A city watching out for Russian and Chinese spies, Putin, power and poison: Russias elite FSB spy club, More than 20,000 Russians dead in Bakhmut, US says, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'Fighter jets are roaring over my home in Sudan'. Here's what this means for the future of other American hostages. "It will be very difficult to mount a defence.". [34] He said: "I presume that he is innocent because, for now, I haven't seen any evidence against him that would prove otherwise. On 28 December, however, he was arrested by Russia's FSB state security agency, which claimed he had been "caught spying" in Moscow. Quite dilapidated. The former Marine said he was living in quite crowded spaces and estimated that his building housed 50 to 60 people. If so, it appears that Paul Whelan was blind to the threat. It was a flat, abrupt end to a spy trial that had taken just a handful of closed hearings. Paul Whelan as a US marine and the front gate at his parents' property And yet, unknown to those closest to him, Paul had been court-martialled for trying to steal According to court documents, he was in charge of the company's campus security group, and his duties included managing and conducting investigations, as well as handling some purchasing. ", Zherebenko has worked on the high-profile international case of a Russian accused of. So he just thought it's an opportunity to have that, so why not? Russian officials say the American former Marine who is being held in Moscow on spying charges also holds British citizenship, and London has requested consular access to him. His rank was downgraded to corporal as he was found guilty of cheque bounce and attempted theft of around $10,000 during his office. [30] He told Whelan's family that Paul was "in good health and good spirits", but that the family needed to supply all his incidental needs aside from basic foodstuffs. So without much ado, read thePaul Whelan Dishonorable Dischargeblog to know the complete story. The American disappeared without trace for three days until his twin stumbled across a news report announcing that his brother had been charged with espionage. Coint, Prediction. Ivan Pavlov believes Whelan's claim he was framed is "always possible" with FSB intelligence officers. Why is Paul Whelan imprisoned? It was noticeable, one such report said, that he chose only to befriend men and not "pretty Russian girls". Indian officials wife distraught as his killer is freed. Paul Whelan was detained by the Federal Security Service of Russia on 28th December 2018 at the Metropol Hotel room in Moscow. From Novi, Michigan, he was born in Canada to British parents and moved to the US as a child. Britains foreign secretary says Russia is trying to use a man detained as an alleged spy as a pawn in its geopolitical games. It was an Automobile component distributor company. for choosing Brittney Grinner over Whelan. By then, we'd learned that the American had visited Russia multiple times. "Whelan, do you understand the sentence?" [1], U.S. In one email exchange during his early 2018 trip to Moscow, a relative joked: "Don't get into any trouble we can't get you out of, haha!". The release of Brittney Griner, the American basketball star imprisoned in Russia who was exchanged Thursday for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, shed light on the case of another American prisoner, Paul Whelan. the man replied to my enquiries, adding that his own interest was in the ex-Marine's time in Iraq. Russia argues that Butina is a political prisoner. Whelan received a "bad conduct discharge" from the Marines in 2008. Odds are he did something wrong. The convening authority approved the sentence as adjudged.2 We have Whalen was reduced in rank from staff sergeant to corporal and given a bad conduct discharge from the service. He is currently facing. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mr Whelan, 52, was given a 16-year jail sentence in 2020 after being arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying in 2018. passport. That year he told a Marines news site that he'd taken advantage of a programme that funded a two-week break abroad for those on long deployments. But Whelan never made it to the ceremony. In a trial the U.S. criticized as unfair, Whelan was convicted of spying and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony. Kristen Jordan Shamus - Detroit Free Press. "He was always absolutely positive about the [Marines] experience. His job included campus security as well as electronic and IT-related security. He's now back home after a prisoner-swap. [3][6], According to a deposition Whelan gave in 2013, he was in law enforcement from 1988 to 2000 as a police officer in Chelsea, Michigan, and a sheriff's deputy in Washtenaw County. A member of his defence team has since revealed that he was coming under intense pressure from the FSB to confess, interrogated several times without his lawyers present. Whelan went on to seek out more Russian friends, using the country's social networking service VK among others. All rights reserved. "I don't believe that Paul is a spy," the man wrote to me. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Grim life of American 'spy' in Russian labour camp, CNN reports he was accused of using someone else's social security number, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida. Spy trials in Russia are not only heard in secret, the defence lawyers have to sign non-disclosure agreements covering the entire case. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred, he said in a phone interview with CNN from the remote Russian penal colony where he is being detained. ", "He said it's beautiful and he liked the cold and he had quite a few friends there.". "[4][f], Whelan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and raised partly in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan where he and his twin brother David graduated from Huron High School in 1988. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He held the rank of staff sergeant with Marine Air Control Group 38 working as an administrative clerk and administrative chief, and he was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He'll need to buy things like razors, toilet paper, soap, things that would be on-hand anywhere else. The day the verdict was announced, Whelan said he thought it was a foregone conclusion, and shouted from within a glass-enclosed area in the courtroom that Russia feels impotent in the world, so theyre taking political hostages.. Just as there are groupies for rock bands, sports teams, and politicians, Whelan was a FSB groupie. WebEither a spook or doing some industrial espionage. American Who Loves Russia Ensnared in New Cold War", United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, "American Paul Whelan arrested in Russia on spy charges as potential retribution for Maria Butina", "Brother of American arrested in Russia on spy charges says he was there for a wedding", "American arrested in Russia on spying charges was there for a wedding", "Twin brother of Novi man accused of spying in Russia: He's innocent", " 16 ", "Jeremy Hunt warns Russia not to play 'diplomatic chess games' over British man arrested for spying", " , ", "The curious case of the ex-marine jailed for spying", "Russia keen to raise Paul Whelan's jail time to 18 years", "Ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan sentenced to 16 years jail in Russia", "Paul Whelan, American Accused of Spying by Russia, Thrown in Moscow's Most Infamous Dungeon", "Details of Russian obstruction paint bleak picture for American held in Moscow", "Russia's Arrest of Paul Whelan Is Payback for Maria Butina, CIA Veterans Say", "The President* Is So Hopelessly Compromised", "Ambassador Huntsman visits American detained in Moscow", "Russia allows U.S. ambassador to meet with detained American", "American detained by Russia was convicted of trying to steal thousands of dollars while deployed to Iraq as a Marine", "Seor K: Russia and Argentina split over mysterious drug smuggling case", "Paul Whelan, American Accused of Spying, Is Said to Be Charged in Russia", "US spy suspect found with Russian 'state secrets', lawyer says", "Moscow Accuses Washington of Detaining Russian Citizen After Whelan's Arrest", "Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, convicted of espionage charges in Russia, gets 16-year prison sentence", "American Paul Whelan convicted of spying by Russia, gets 16 years in prison", "Russian court sentences US citizen Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison", "American Paul Whelan arrives at Russian penal colony after espionage conviction", "Paul Whelan: Grim life of US 'spy' in Russian labour camp", "Trevor Reed came back home, but Paul Whelan is still imprisoned in Russia", "CNN Exclusive: Biden administration offers convicted Russian arms dealer in exchange for Griner, Whelan", "In freeing Griner, Biden faced resistance abroad and at home", "Inside Biden's agonizing decision to take a deal that freed Brittney Griner but left Paul Whelan in Russia", "Griner's release puts a spotlight on Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned in Russia", "Ex-US marine accused of spying in Russia is British citizen", "US citizen held in Moscow seeks Irish consular aid", "Here's what we know about Paul Whelan, the US citizen accused of spying in Russia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Whelan_(security_director)&oldid=1152256903, American people convicted of spying for the United States, People with acquired American citizenship, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 03:53. Reuters, 8 Dec. 2022. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/paul-whelan-ex-us-marine-jailed-russia-spying-charges-2022-12-08/. If Whelan is found guilty of espionage, he could face 10 to 20 years in prison. Biden called those espionage allegations totally illegitimate charges., Biden said his administration has not forgotten about Paul Whelan, and promised to keep negotiating in good faith for his release., Meanwhile, Whelan said Thursday that he is greatly disappointed that the government has not done more to secure his release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. This is not a situation where we had a choice of which American to bring home. "[31] On January 4, 2019, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We don't agree with individuals being used in diplomatic chess games We are all extremely worried about him and his family. Whelan, arrested Dec. 28, 2018, in a Moscow hotel, has said he thought the flash drive that he received from an acquaintance contained holiday photos. In Whelan's case, there's the added nuance that his defence team were appointed and paid for by the Russian state. Whelan's arrest comes just two weeks after alleged Russian spy Maria Butina pleaded guilty in the US to conspiracy charges. In a 9 November statement - which largely focused on Ms Griner - the White House said that the US government is willing to follow up on its exchange offer for Ms Griner with "alternative potential ways forward" to secure the release of Americans detained in Russian, including Mr Whelan. Please comment. Its clear that the U.S. government has no concessions that the Russian government will take for Paul Whelan. Russia freed Brittney Griner in a high-profile prisoner exchange with the U.S. Britains Press Association said Whelans U.K. citizenship was reported by the U.S. embassy to British officials on Thursday. David Whelan issued a family statement on Friday on behalf of his brother, Paul Whelan, saying that the family was very pleased to know that staff of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow have been given consular access to Paul and confirmed that he is safe., He says the familys focus remains on ensuring that Paul is safe, well treated, has a good lawyer, and is coming home.. Brother of detained American speaks. Paul Whelan's early life and the possibility of congressional intervention, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "No-one's hiding that, everyone talks about it, all the officials," he told the press. [14] They further claim that Whelan's arrest is connected to tensions between Russia and the United States, including the detention of confessed unregistered foreign agent Maria Butina. "[46], Whelan is a citizen of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In an interview with ABC News in November 2020, Whelan described the place as very, very old. His family decided not to change them, reasoning that a bill of over $150,000 (121,000) was "an awful lot of resources for what would have been zero impact". In Frode Berg's case, the Norwegian government stayed quiet. And, to make matters worse, he wrongfully used another person's Social Security number to engage in unlawful activity. A special court martial also found him guilty of failing to report his vacation time. Russian lawyers for Whelan also lamented that their client was not included in the swap. 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paul whelan bad conduct discharge