Paul Whelan spent his 49th birthday in a Moscow prison Tuesday, and his twin brother says there is no indication the U.S. government is doing anything to secure his release.
At the same time, Whelan's Russian lawyer shares that he is not allowed to see his client more than once every two weeks and believes someone ordered Whelan's arrest because the FSB has yet to produce evidence of his being a spy.
Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who also has British, Canadian and Irish passports, was arrested on December 28 in his room at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow by Russian Federal Security, the FSB, and charged with espionage.
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“I think about Paul every day. I wonder about what he thinks about his situation, and how much he must miss my parents,” David told The Daily Beast. “I hope he doesn't know how he appears to be practically abandoned by governments who should be seeking his freedom.”
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“No matter how hard diplomats try, Paul is blocked from any communication in prison. The FSB do not allow us to pass him letters,” David said.
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“Paul’s arrest and imprisonment is clearly designed by some Russian authority—whether the government or some part of the security apparatus —to extract benefits in the future. There is no other logic for his continued detention,” David said.
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Whelan’s lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, is angry with the FSB for not letting him see his client today.
“This is not a civilized country, I cannot see my client on his birthday, I can only visit him once every two weeks.” Zherebenkov sounded annoyed on the phone. “Every time I show up, they tell me that five or six FSB investigators have taken all the meeting rooms in prison. So, they should open more rooms! This is insane. This can happen only in Russia!”
Last month Zherebenkov failed to get Whelan out on bail. “If the court does not let Paul stay under house arrest, at least they could allow us provide the client with a proper defense.”
Zherebenkov said that so far the investigators have not presented him with any evidence to prove that his client is a spy.
“This case was ordered by somebody. The FSB have no evidence. Otherwise they would not have delayed our meetings for weeks.”
“I know what an ordered arrest means,” said Zherebenkov, revealing a hitherto unmentioned part of his personal history. “I spent more than four years in prison myself on false accusations. Believe me, most of my cases are ordered, falsified cases and I am good at winning them,” he added with optimism.
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“I must admit, I'm losing faith that the Russian court will agree with Paul's defense lawyers and realize the FSB made a substantial blunder,” David said. “The judge so far has been willing to give the FSB whatever it asks for.”
“We believe only diplomatic solutions will free Paul from his wrongful detention,“ David said.
Accused U.S. ‘Spy’ Paul Whelan Turns 49 in Moscow Prison With Freedom Nowhere in Sight (Daily Beast)