Former US Marine Paul Whelan has spoken out from Russian prison after four years behind bars, slamming the Biden administration for failing to secure his release in the prisoner swap that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner.
Controversial prisoner swap saw Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman help broker Griner’s release in exchange for a Russian arms dealer known as the ‘Merchant of Death’, whose sales have cost countless lives, including those of US servicemen.
Republicans have accused President Joe Biden of favoring celebrities over veterans, as Whelan is left to languish in prison on espionage charges that his family and the US government say are baseless.
‘I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up,’ Whelan told CNN in a phone call from the remote Russian penal colony where he is serving a 16-year sentence.
‘I was arrested for a crime that never occurred. I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.
‘Whelan said he hoped Biden and his administration ‘would do everything they could to get me home, regardless of the price they might have to pay at this point.
‘I would say that if a message could go to President Biden, that this is a precarious situation that needs to be resolved quickly,’ he added.
‘My bags are packed. I’m ready to go home. I just need an airplane to come and get me,’ he said. ‘It’s quite obvious that I’m being held hostage.’
A senior administration official would not comment directly on the prince’s role but said the US will ‘continue to lean on partners around the world’ to secure the release of unjustly detained Americans.
The swap happened at Abu Dhabi airport, where Griner and Bout had to walked past each other to reach their respective parties on the airport tarmac, Russian state media reported.
Whelan is being held in penal colony IK-17, which is located in the remote Russian province of Mordovia – a place where prisoners are forced to pay for their own supplies including toilet paper, toothpaste, and fresh food.Â
