Washington — Almost seven weeks after the Russians handed over Paul Whelan on a tarmac in Ankara, Turkey, the Marine veteran stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol with a message for different People who’re held overseas.
“We’re coming for you,” he instructed reporters Tuesday evening after he met with lawmakers. “It’d take time, however we’re coming.”
Whelan mentioned he spoke with lawmakers about how the federal government can higher help detainees after they’re launched.
“We spoke about how the subsequent particular person’s expertise might be higher,” he mentioned. “What the federal government might do for the subsequent person who’s held hostage and comes residence — the care and help that different individuals would possibly want, particularly individuals which are in a worse state of affairs. There are individuals coming again that lived within the dust with out sneakers for 3 years, those that had been locked up in hideous circumstances for 20 years. They want help.”
CBS Information
The U.S. secured Whelan’s launch in August in one of many largest prisoner swaps for the reason that finish of the Chilly Struggle. The advanced deal got here after months of delicate negotiations between the U.S., Russia, Germany, Slovenia, Poland and Norway.
As a part of the deal, Russia launched 16 prisoners whereas the Western international locations launched eight Russians. Whelan was launched alongside Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a U.S. inexperienced card holder and Kremlin critic.
Whelan, who had been the longest-held American detainee in Russia, was arrested in December 2018 when he traveled to the nation to attend a pal’s wedding ceremony. He was convicted of espionage in a secret trial and sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2020.
Whelan, his household and the U.S. authorities vehemently denied that he was a spy and accused Russia of utilizing him as a political pawn. The U.S. authorities thought of him to be wrongfully detained, a uncommon designation that put extra authorities sources towards securing his launch.
However a deal to safe his freedom was lengthy elusive. He remained behind bars as Russia freed Marine veteran Trevor Reed and girls’s basketball star Brittney Griner — each of whom had been detained after Whelan’s arrest — in prisoner swaps with the U.S.
The U.S. mentioned it pushed for his inclusion in each exchanges, however Russia refused. It led to Whelan advocating for his personal launch from a distant jail camp, calling authorities officers and journalists to ensure that he wasn’t forgotten.
When the aircraft carrying Whelan, Gershkovish and Kurmasheva landed in Maryland on Aug. 1, Whelan was the primary to disembark. He was greeted by President Biden, who gave Whelan his American flag pin, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Whether or not he likes it or not, he modified the world,” Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, instructed reporters Tuesday.
Whelan’s case and his household’s fixed stress on the U.S. authorities introduced extra consideration to the circumstances of People who’re wrongfully detained by overseas governments.
Haley mentioned Whelan is a reminder to different People contemplating touring to Russia that “you could have a goal in your again.”
Whelan mentioned it has been an adjustment acclimating to life again within the U.S., particularly studying the most recent know-how like his iPhone 15.
“I used to be in a very distant a part of Russia,” he mentioned. “We actually did not have a lot. The circumstances had been poor. The Russians mentioned the poor circumstances had been a part of the punishment. And coming again to see this form of factor now’s a little bit of a shock, but it surely’s a great shock.”
