Michigan lawmakers reintroduced bipartisan measures Tuesday in both chambers of Congress calling on Russia to produce “credible” evidence against Michigan resident Paul Whelan or release him “immediately.”
The resolution — introduced by U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills; Tim Walberg, R-Tipton; and Sens. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing — also calls on the Russian government to provide Whelan with unrestricted consular access, due process and human rights.
Whelan has been imprisoned for more than two years in Russia. A former security executive from Novi, he was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and convicted last June on espionage charges after a secret trial. Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison colony.
“We have repeatedly asked the Russian government to give my constituent, Paul Whelan, a fair and transparent judicial process to no avail,” Stevens said in a statement.
“He continues to suffer in prison, without full consular access, and Paul’s health is rapidly deteriorating,” she added. “If Russia cannot produce any evidence after keeping an American citizen detained for two years, they must release him immediately. Let Paul come home and get the medical care he needs.”
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the House in October 2019 but never passed the U.S. Senate.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Michigan delegation in the House and Senate to continue to advocate for Paul,” David Whelan, Paul’s twin brother, said Tuesday.
Whelan has maintained his innocence, insisting he was set up. The State Department has called his closed trial a “mockery of justice,” noting Russian prosecutors produced no evidence, and he was not able to produce witnesses in his defense. Peters called the proceeding a “sham trial with no due process or credible evidence.”
“We must continue to denounce the Russian government for their political games and press for Paul’s release and safe return home to Michigan,” Peters said.
Whelan’s health in detention has been a serious concern for his family after he last year had emergency hernia surgery. He’s told his parents that the guards at his Mordovian prison camp wake him at night every two hours, and the workshop where he and other prisoners make clothes six days a week is kept at about 40 degrees.
Walberg call Whelan’s maltreatment and denial of basic rights by Russia “a travesty.”
“To the Whelan family: We continue to stand with you and we will not rest until Paul is reunited with his loved ones in Michigan,” Walberg said.
Whelan last year expressed optimism that the Russian and U.S. governments would work out a deal to release him.
But his family fears that the sanctions imposed by the Biden administration last week on Russians and Russian entities over could complicate matters by increasing already strained tensions between the two nations.
Biden officials said the sanctions were in response to interference in last year’s presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies. Russia reciprocated by expelling 10 diplomats and suggesting the American ambassador to Russia temporarily return to Washington.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday said Ambassador John Sullivan would do so, before returning to Moscow “in the coming weeks before any meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin.”
The winnowing of embassy staff in Russia will make the work of consular support for Paul “even harder,” David Whelan said.
“Ambassador Sullivan has been a stalwart supporter, and Paul couldn’t have a better advocate. It’s obviously a bit disappointing that Ambassador Sullivan won’t be in Moscow for a time,” David said.
“But I don’t think it has a direct impact on any effort to seek Paul’s release, which would be led from Washington for the American side. If his temporary absence contributes to normalization, I would see it as helpful.”
David described the U.S.-Russia relationship during his brother’s imprisonment as a “catboat in a hurricane,” but noted that President Joe Biden has indicated he wants the two nations to have a stable relationship.
News of a potential summit between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin and some rapprochement “would be a welcome change,” David said.
He highlighted remarks by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said last week that issues of detainment of U.S. citizens in Russia are continually raised in diplomatic conversations.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrox in February and urged him to release American citizens detained in Russia, including Whelan and Trevor Reed.
“We realize the freedom of individuals can get lost amid discussions of nuclear arms, terrorism, and national security,” David said.
“There are huge issues needing attention. We hope that both the U.S. and Russian Federation governments take the opportunity to talk about them. And, at the same time, use those opportunities to solve the smaller problems as well, like wrongfully detained citizens. Like freedom for Paul.”
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