The exchange of prisoners between Washington and Moscow led to the release of American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who was released yesterday in exchange the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The American president published the emotional moment he informed the wife of the basketball player, who was in the White House, that her beloved “landed”.
“He is safe. He is on a plane. She’s on her way home,” the US president tweeted.
Biden then said the US would never abandon negotiations to free Paul Whelan from Russia, but yesterday’s exchange of prisoners between Washington and Moscow leaves little choice in the case of the US ex-Marine.
“Unfortunately and for completely illegal reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Britney’s case. And while we have yet to secure Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up,” Biden said.
But for Paul Whelan himself this development caused him disappointment. “I am very disappointed that more was not done to secure my release, especially as it is almost four years since my arrest. I was arrested for a crime that never happened,” Whelan told CNN today after the news of Greiner’s release.
Whelan, a former US Marine, is serving a 16-year sentence in a penal colony in Russia’s Mordovia region after pleading guilty to espionage charges, which he denies. He was arrested in 2018 and convicted two years later.
Paul’s brother David Whelan welcomed Greiner’s release but said the development did not bode well for his brother. The Biden administration notified the Whelan family in advance that he would not be released with Greiner, David Whelan said.
“This early warning meant our family was able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a disaster for Paul,” the Marine’s brother said in a statement.
The deal may leave the US with little leeway and little leverage to negotiate Whelan’s release.
“So a basketball star is released, we can celebrate that, but what about Paul Whelan? An American is unjustly detained for years. He may not be a prominent figure, but he is innocent,” Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger tweeted.
US officials have argued that Moscow has left them no choice.
After Greiner’s release, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US government would continue to actively engage in discussions with Moscow about Whelan’s release.
“In the end, it became clear that the choice was: Either we bring Brittney Greiner back home now, or we bring no Americans back now,” a senior administration official told reporters.
Biden said officials are in contact with Whelan’s family.
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith for Paul’s release. I guarantee it,” he said.
Biden has been personally monitoring the repatriation negotiations for both Greiner and Whelan for months, the US official said.
Source: News Beast
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