Former Marine Paul Whelan Released from Russian Prison

16-Year Sentence Overturned

Washington and Russia Reach Deal

Washington - Former Marine Paul Whelan has been released from a Russian prison after five and a half years of imprisonment. Whelan, who was head of global security for BorgWarner, was arrested in December 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. The release came as part of a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia, in which Whelan was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.

Whelan's release has been welcomed by both the United States and Russia. US President Joe Biden called Whelan's release "a testament to the power of unwavering diplomacy and the importance of working tirelessly to bring Americans home." Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Whelan's release was a "gesture of goodwill" and that he hoped it would "contribute to improving relations between our two countries."

Whelan's release has been hailed as a major victory for the Biden administration, which has made the return of Americans detained abroad a priority. It is also a sign of a possible thaw in relations between the United States and Russia, which have been strained in recent years over a number of issues, including the war in Ukraine.