Ex-US Marine decries ‘threats, abuse’ in Russian jail

A former US Marine arrested on spying charges in Moscow says he is subjected to abuse and harassment in jail, but a diplomat warned yesterday a potential prisoner swap will not happen before a conviction. Paul Whelan has been held under arrest in Russia since late December and is accused of being caught red-handed “carrying out an act of espionage”.

A Moscow court on Friday extended his pre-trial arrest for another three months, with Whelan addressing the media from his cage in an emotive speech accusing Russian authorities of treating him like a “prisoner of war”. “I’ve been threatened, my personal safety has been threatened, there are abuses and harassment that I am constantly subjected to,” Whelan said according to a BBC video. He said he’d been deprived of showers, medical treatment, correspondence, and books.

“Everything is being kept from me. This is a typical prisoner of war, chapter one isolation technique,” Whelan said. “They are trying to run me down so that I talk to them.”