On Dec. 8, 2022, WNBA star Brittney Griner was released to American custody after spending nearly 10 months as a prisoner in the Russian penal system on marijuana-related charges. Paul Whelans family members criticize the US government on the Prisoners swap for choosing Brittney Grinner over Whelan. And then, the Irish changed the law in the early part of the century to allow grandchildren of Irish citizens to get Irish citizenship. Also, the readers can find theUnited Statesgovernments reaction to Paul Whelans arrest. The detained former Marine had an interest in Russia, though. His own cellmate in Lefortovo used to joke that the inmates were fed dog food in the mornings. Why was Whelan rejected for the Prisoners swap? Such a punishment generally disqualifies a former Marine from receiving Veterans Affairs benefits. Paul Whelan, the global security director for a U.S. company, was arrested a week ago in Moscow. 2023 BBC. 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.. In terms of severity of punishment, this form of discharge is second to and distinct from a dishonorable discharge. At the time, he was identified only as an American. Paul Whelan It's clear that the US government has no concessions that the Russian government will take for Paul Whelan. [42] On July 27, 2022, it was announced that President Joe Biden had offered a trade for Whelan and WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia in February on drug charges, in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed "The Merchant of Death". It has been nearly four years since Russian authorities arrested Paul Whelan in Moscow on charges of espionage. So we were eligible for British and Canadian citizenship because we were born in Canada to British parents. Paul Whelan was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008 following a special court-martial. He worked in the 2000s as an IT project manager for Kelly Services Company. The 48-year-old former Marine and global security director for a U.S. company was arrested a week ago in Moscow. under the IK-17 penal colony of the Mordovia region, located in east Moscow. For his crimes, he was ultimately discharged from the Marine Corps for bad conduct, a ruling he unsuccessfully attempted to appeal. "[46], Whelan is a citizen of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Whelan, the 48-year-old global security director for a U.S. auto parts company, was arrested Dec. 28 in Moscow. Paul Whelan Paul Whelan But Whelan never made it to the ceremony. As he still works for the FSB, I can't identify him so I'll call him "Dmitry". Russian authorities alleged he possessed a computer flash drive containing classified information. Claim: Paul Whelan received a punitive discharge from the Marines. 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. "I think Paul will be taking it very hard. It is an extraordinarily long time. He'll need to buy things like razors, toilet paper, soap, things that would be on-hand anywhere else. But he knows it took months of complex, confidential diplomacy to arrange a suitable swap for Frode Berg that eventually involved Russian agents in prison in Lithuania. He was discharged from the Marines for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of charges related to larceny, according to military and court records. 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. The details of the charges against Whelan from a special court-martial two years later, which resulted in his discharge for bad conduct, add to an increasingly 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. True. Paul Whelan's early life and the possibility of congressional intervention, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [13], Whelan traveled to Russia several times from 2006 and maintained an intermittent presence on a Russian language social media website, Vkontakte (VK), where he had approximately 70 contacts. Perhaps Whelan enjoyed the element of danger that came from flirting with the FSB, hanging out with intelligence officers. Whelan then spent over a decade working as a corporate security expert. That was a day after U.S. Former CIA officers have dismissed any suggestion that Whelan could be involved in something similar, operating without diplomatic immunity: the idea, floated by one retired Russian officer, that his arrest was a "great failure" of US intelligence. He joined the Marine Reserves May 10, 1994,and was an administrative clerk and administrative chief. The FSB was already dripping details of the case it would make in court. It does not have any facilities in Russia. From Novi, Michigan, he was born in Canada to British parents and moved to the US as a child. Whelan's case is a curious one as four different countries Canada, the U.S., Britain, and Ireland all claim him as a citizen, and each is seeking consular access. American detained by Russia tried to steal thousands of dollars The Latest: Marines provide details of Whelan court-martial New details have emerged about the military historyNovi businessman Paul Whelan, who has been accused of spying in Russia. [41], Family members said Whelan had been told that he had been arrested to be exchanged for a Russian prisoner in the United States, mentioning Konstantin Yaroshenko (who was released in return for American Trevor Reed), Viktor Bout, or Roman Seleznev. "[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. He later worked as a global security executive for the auto WebEither a spook or doing some industrial espionage. So when Whelan's plight became public, there was speculation that he could be the human collateral. Some do have clear military connections - including photographs in uniform - though not all, and no-one who replied to my messages had seen any reason to doubt Whelan's motives. State TV crews, hovering for their shots in the hallway, were already referring to the accused man as "the American spy". [7] The Chelsea Police, however, said he worked in lesser roles and as a part-time officer from 1990 to 1996, while the Washtenaw County sheriff reported no record of his employment. The former US Marine - who also has British, Irish and Canadian citizenship - has always insisted on his innocence, and in court this week he described himself the victim of "greasy, slimy Russian politics". Its unclear why Moscow officials were so eager to bring him home. But when I asked for his side of the story, his eyes flicked towards the guards. WebAccording to court-martial records, Paul Whelan actually received a bad-conduct discharge from the US Marines in 2008 and his rank was reduced to that of corporal Why was Griner detained? His rank was downgraded to corporal as he was found guilty of cheque bounce and attempted theft of around $10,000 during his office. Kristen Jordan Shamus - Detroit Free Press. At the same time, Washington was still accusing Moscow of meddling in its elections. COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS WASHINGTON, D.C. - Navy One light remains on in the cell 24/7. | 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. WebPaul Whelan may refer to: . A Moscow hairdresser, meanwhile, was contacted by Whelan on Instagram around five years back. Paul Whelan He was formally charged on January 3, 2019. BrwnLadyBee on Twitter: "@dsgordon @nowthisnews 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. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PAUL N. WHELAN. [7], He was an IT manager for the Kelly Services staffing company from 2001[8] to 2003, and then 2008 to 2010. Paul Whelan 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. He left the company in 2016, moving to become director of global security for US-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner. Paul Whelan's lawyers have now confirmed that he was being watched for some time and his communications monitored. He again joined the marines in 2004 and then in 2006. [28][29] On December 20, 2018, when discussing Butina's arrest, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia "will not arrest innocent people simply to exchange them". Whelan, 48, was arrested Friday in Moscow, and was charged with espionage. This is not a situation where we had a choice of which American to bring home. "It all sounds incredibly nave now," his brother concedes of the relationship, after finally obtaining the passwords for Paul's computers and trawling through his files. The Russian government declared Paul Whelan guilty long ago. Paul Whelan The Ex-Marine 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. ago. [8], He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1994. According to various reports, Paul Whelan served the Kelly services company after his dishonorable discharge and got a promotion in 2010. "[25][39], Whelan was initially held at the Correctional Colony No. He's now back home after a prisoner-swap. Accessed 9 Dec. 2022. He took a military leave of absence from Kelly Services, he testified, to serve in Iraq. When the judge returned to court, to extend his stay in prison once again, Whelan's frustration erupted. A decade later, he would message home regularly from trips to Russia displaying similar almost child-like wonder at new discoveries. Did he commit any severe crime? "That person was an FSB officer. The Pentagon, The American refused and as his time in custody was extended repeatedly, he gradually grew bolder in court. Read about our approach to external linking. "Having grown up during the Cold War, it was a dream of mine to visit Russia and meet some of the sneaky Russians who had kept the western world at bay for so long!!" Paul Whelan was a former marine who was given a bad conduct discharge many years prior to his arrest in Russia in 2018. Why wasn't Whelan included in the prisoner swap? At a news conference on Thursday, President Biden said that the US government will "never give up" on securing Mr Whelan's release. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. He is currently facing. The pages also reveal his first friends in the Russian military. One replied to tell me he'd been a student and supermarket night-guard when the American first made contact. [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. In a trial the U.S. criticized as unfair, Whelan was convicted of spying and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called on Washington to show "humanity" and release Yaroshenko "and other unjustly convicted" Russians. 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. 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. And adding to his discomfort was chronic pain from a hernia that eventually strangulated, resulting in emergency surgery. On Whelan's old website, alongside Harry Potter books and War and Peace, his recommended reading includes a long list of Cold War thrillers by Tom Clancy. Another link leads to a homemade guide to the Cyrillic alphabet and some basic first words in Russian. 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. He said the evidence was only ever examined by "incompetent and interested parties". In terms of severity of punishment, this form of discharge is second to and distinct from a dishonorable discharge. He received a Bad Conduct Discharge as the result of a UCMJ Courts Martial. Defence lawyers disclosed some details of the men's relationship early on in the case, including how the American had visited his friend's house in Sergiev Posad outside Moscow for "saunas and kebabs" the winter before his arrest. The three judges swept off the podium and out of court. Paul Whelan was discharged from the Marines for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of larceny. 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.. Eleven years later, its officers would drive him there for interrogation. Whelan, his family and the U.S. government have repeatedly stated that the charges are baseless and that he was framed. The Marine Corps released Whelans service record, showing that he was convicted in a 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? [1], U.S. Family handout/AFP. ", the American wrote back. How long has Paul Whelan been held in a Russian penal colony? Sentenced to a high-security prison, Paul Whelan won't be leaving Lefortovo just yet. Whelan joked back then on his website, which has since been archived. His rank was downgraded to corporal as he was found guilty of cheque bounce and attempted A citizen of four countries the United States, Canada, Britain and Ireland, Whelan was a former sheriffs deputy and served several tours in Iraq as an active-duty reservist. Paul Whelan was not recently included in the Prisoner swap activity with Russia. "[They'd say] things like, 'There's no hope for you, tell us the truth. 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. Indian officials wife distraught as his killer is freed. https://home.army.mil/bliss/index.php/about/news/administrative-discharge-status-can-affect-benefits. This is slimy, greasy corrupt Russian politics, nothing more, nothing less. [45], Whelan's brother David Whelan approved of the decision to "make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen. Both Ireland and the U.K. have asked that their diplomats be allowed to visit him. His mornings begin at 6 a.m. and his routine is monotonous, but writing letters and reading books in English helped him get through it, he said. "I don't know anything what [sic] might be interesting to foreign spy. Paul Whelan is being held in the renovated wing, where the Norwegian says there is hot water in the cells now as well as a fridge, TV and toilet. 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. Whe He Dead? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Watching from the wooden courtroom benches, socially distanced and in medical facemasks, were the ambassadors of the US, UK and Canada. After news of Griners release Thursday, U.S. officials lamented not being able to secure Whelans release, but said they were continuing the efforts. Just two weeks after his arrest, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that the American had been caught "red-handed" conducting a "concrete, illegal act". Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Whelan was caught red-handed, during a spy mission. "Family of American Prisoner Paul Whelan Backs Griner Deal." Whelan and his family say letters have been held back for months by investigators and parcels returned. At the time, one ambassador told me the move had hit Moscow's spying capacity hard. Paul Whelan, 52, is a Marine turned corporate security executive who was convicted of espionage and is serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian prison. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Court records provided by the Marine Corps headquarters show that he had been accused of attempting to steal more than $10,000 while serving as an administrative clerk in Iraq in 2006. Following the release of basketball star Brittney Griner from Russian captivity, US President Joe Biden faces fresh questions about another imprisoned American: former US marine Paul Whelan. His family says he was in Moscow to attend a friends wedding. 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. His job at BorgWarner involves overseeing security for facilities, assets and people in Auburn Hills and around the world, Graham said. He joined the Marine Reserves May 10, 1994, and was an administrative clerk and administrative chief. They also said he owed Whelan around 80,000 roubles ($1,147; 930) which the FSB claimed was advance payment for intelligence. WebHe was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and, a bad-conduct discharge. 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. He'd prepare a speech for each session, writing it out on a sheet of paper vetted and stamped by the prison censors. [37][38] His lawyers said they believed Russia would now seek a prisoner swap. But the same is presumably true in reverse. The Marine Corps released Whelans service record, showing that he was convicted in a 2008 court-martial on charges related to larceny. Paul Whelan received a punitive discharge from the Marines. 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.
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