(Daily Mail) Former US Marine Paul Whelan has spoken out from Russian prison, saying he is ‘disappointed’ the Biden administration has not done more to secure his release following a prisoner swap to free WNBA star Brittney Griner.
Whelan was not part of Thursday’s controversial prisoner swap, which saw Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman help broker Griner’s release in exchange for a Russian arms dealer known as the ‘Merchant of Death.’
Republicans have accused President Joe Biden of favoring celebrities over veterans, as Whelan is left to languish in a Russian penal colony 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,’ he said. ‘I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.’
Paul Whelan has spoken out from Russian prison, saying he is ‘disappointed’ the Biden administration did not secure his release. He is seen above at at 2019 court hearing
Griner (left) was released from Russian prison on Thursday in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (right), known as the ‘Merchant of Death.’
‘My bags are packed. I’m ready to go home. I just need an airplane to come and get me,’ added Whelan. ‘It’s quite obvious that I’m being held hostage.’
Griner, the WNBA star imprisoned on marijuana-related drug charges in Russia, will be returned to the US in exchange for infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The negotiations were reportedly mediated by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, according to Arab News.
A senior administration official would not comment directly on MBS’s role but said the U.S. 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 reports.
The US official said Griner was ‘all smiles’ on the tarmac as she approached the American delegation.
But Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret from Florida, asked: ‘Where is U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been unjustly held by Russia for far longer? Celebrities over veterans?’
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said it was ‘unconscionable’ to leave behind Whelan: ‘Merchant of Death – that’s the nickname of the prisoner Biden returned to Putin. He was convicted of conspiring to kill American law enforcement.
‘This is a gift to Vladimir Putin, and it endangers American lives. Leaving Paul Whelan behind for this is unconscionable,’ he said.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican and former Air Force pilot, also cried foul.
‘So a basketball star is released, we can celebrate, but what about Paul Whelan? An American unjustly detained for years,’ he tweeted.
‘May not be high profile but he is innocent. This is a dangerous road.’
Whelan is being held in penal colony IK-17, which is located in the remote Russian province of Mordovia. His family says conditions there are grim, and they fear for his safety.
Republicans, including veterans Rep. Adam Kinzinger (left) and Rep. Mike Waltz said they feared the Biden administration was more interested in securing the release of celebrities
