The arrest last week of another American in Russia is likely to hurt Michigan native Paul Whelan.
Whelan, detained and convicted as a spy over the past five years, remains in a Mordovian prison camp.
He spoke with CNN by phone on Thursday (May 9); later, Local 4 spoke with his twin brother David Whelan to get his reaction.
David says it remains traumatizing, particularly to Paul’s parents, who are in their mid-80s while still living in Metro Detroit.
Paul has also called them over the past few days, and they, in turn, have to contact the Secretary of State’s office in Washington, D.C., to convey what he tells them by phone.
But in the end, the hope of Paul seeing Michigan again anytime soon appears to be fading.
United States Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, visited a longtime girlfriend in Vladivostok last week before the Russian police arrested him on theft charges.
Paul has prison phone privileges and occasionally uses them to get word out about his concerns.
He told CNN on Thursday that he’s worried the new arrest will set him and Wall Street Journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last year, back.
“Unfortunately, if this gentleman is declared wrongfully detained, it will sort of start negotiations for Evan and I all over again because then there’ll be the three of us,” said Paul. “This is one of the problems that we’ve had in the past. They were negotiating for me, and then it was Trevor and me, and then it was Brittney (Griner) and me. And now it’s Evan and me. And every time they’ve negotiated, it’s always been starting fresh when there’s another person involved. So yeah, it is a bit of a concern.”
Brittney Griner is a WNBA star.
Trevor Reed, who is a former U.S. Marine, was also released before Paul.
Paul’s brother David told us Thursday he believes the Biden Administration is doing what it can. But Paul’s release is likely more distant now than ever.
“They’ve got someone who maybe only been detained for nine months or a year, they can get out quickly, and they go for that quick win rather than bringing Paul out, and I think it’s unfortunate because it’s sacrificing Paul’s life for the freedom of others,” said David.
Paul put out a release Wednesday talking about how he recently found himself in the middle of a prison riot, and thankfully, he has friends willing to shield him from harm.
But, he did say he was worried the lengthy detention is taking its toll on Paul’s mental health.