Paul Whelan, an American who has been imprisoned in Russia for five years on espionage charges that both he and the U.S. government dismiss as unfounded, said it was “inconceivable” that the Biden administration had “left me behind” while other Americans were released prisoner exchanges. Whelan told CBS News' affiliate network BBC News in a telephone interview from prison that he fears he will also be left out of a future prisoner exchange with Russia.
“A grave betrayal. It’s extremely frustrating,” he told the BBC. “I know that the US has made all sorts of proposals – serious proposals – but the Russians don't want that.”
Click here to view related media.
Click to expand
“It’s been five years. It is inconceivable to me that they left me behind,” said Whelan, who is also a citizen of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada.
Paul Whelan was seen refusing to answer questions in a video released by Russian state media, August 28, 2023. Russian state media
Earlier this month, the US State Department said Russia had rejected a “new and significant” proposal to release Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on unfounded espionage charges during a reporting trip to Russia in March.
Gerschkovich is still awaiting trial, but Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 on similar charges while attending a friend's wedding, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 for being used as a political pawn by Russia.
The U.S. government has classified both men as being unlawfully detained by Russia.
In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the families of Americans detained or held hostage not to give up hope. During a press conference on Wednesday, he specifically addressed the Gershkovich and Whelan cases.
“All I can say is this: We're working very actively on this and we're going to leave no stone unturned to see if we can't find the right way to get her home and get her home as quickly as possible,” Blinken said reporters.
Blinken said their release was “a big focus of our actions and activities,” but he could not provide details about the effort.
At a regular press briefing at the State Department on Tuesday, spokesman Mathew Miller reiterated that Russia had rejected “significant proposals” for the release of the two men, “one of them just a few weeks ago.” And we will continue to look for opportunities to engage with the Russian government to bring them home.
Evan Gershkovich (left) and Paul Whelan are currently imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges that the US believes are unfounded. The Wall Street Journal; Sofia Sandurskaya/AP
When asked what Russia had demanded in return for the men's release when it rejected recent U.S. offers, Miller declined to elaborate.
According to CBS Detroit, Whelan's brother David said in an email earlier this month that the White House had told the family that Paul's case remained a top priority, but he was no longer sure what that meant.
“It took nearly 12 months for the U.S. to marshal its resources and make a unique offer for Paul’s release,” David Whelan said in the email. “The offer was rejected. And we are back at the beginning, no further than December 28, 2018. If there are still stones to be solved, now is the time to uncover them.”
“Now would be a good time for the White House to show that it is willing to do more than just offer another platitude,” David Whelan said, urging President Biden to meet with his family, which is his “It would be a long road.” Assure us that the President will keep his promise to Paul and never miss an opportunity to bring Paul home to our family.”
The U.S. has negotiated prisoner swaps with Russia in the past, including the high-profile 2022 deal in which basketball star Brittney Griner was released by Moscow in return for the U.S. releasing long-jailed arms dealer Viktor Bout, whose illegal exploits earned him the nickname brought in: “the dealer of death.”
Whelan told the BBC that conditions in the prison camp where he is being held had “deteriorated significantly”, noting in particular dampness and black mold, and he feared he would again be hit by any new prisoner exchange agreed between Washington and Moscow would be excluded.
“I'm worried that there will be a deal that leaves me behind,” he said in a telephone interview. “With each case, my case falls behind – remains in the dust.”
-Alex Sundby contributed reporting.
More from CBS News
Tucker Reals