US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to securing the release of American citizen Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia for five years. Blinken’s statement came on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Whelan’s arrest by Russian authorities.
In his address, Blinken highlighted the challenging circumstances that Whelan has faced during his imprisonment, including a secret trial held behind closed doors and five years spent in a Russian penal colony. He also pointed out that Whelan has been subjected to attacks by other prisoners and endured insults from Russian state media.
The Secretary of State expressed deep concern over the unjust detention of American citizens by the Russian government, emphasizing, “For too long, Paul and his family have suffered the consequences of the Russian government’s decision to unjustly detain American citizens. Using people as political pawns is unacceptable.”
Blinken also underscored the Biden administration’s dedication to securing the release of unjustly detained Americans, noting that since President Biden took office, more than forty such individuals have been successfully brought back to the United States.
Blinken concluded by assuring the public that the US government remains tirelessly committed to reuniting Paul Whelan with his family. He stated, “Not a day goes by without the US government making intense efforts to bring Paul home. We will not rest until he returns safely to his family.”
The statement reflects the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the plight of American citizens detained abroad and reinforces the US government’s commitment to advocating for their release.