American citizen Paul Whelan assaulted while imprisoned in Russia
November 28, 2023American Paul Whelan was attacked at the Russian labor camp where he’s currently being held, according to his family. Whelan, 53, told his parents about the attack in a phone call, his brother David Whelan told CBS News. The incident occurred as a prisoner blocked Whelan’s way near a sewing table and struck him in the face, breaking his glasses. Other prisoners intervened to stop the assault. Whelan is worried about the potential use of sharp objects in future attacks, his brother said. Whelan, a businessman and former Marine, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being accused of spying and arrested on espionage charges in 2018. The U.S. maintains his innocence and considers him wrongfully detained. Earlier this year, a video showed Whelan using a sewing machine at a penal colony in Mordovia, roughly 250 miles west of Moscow. His case is similar to that of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained and accused of spying in Russia earlier this year. The Biden administration had previously brokered a prisoner swap to free WNBA star Britney Griner and Marine veteran Trevor Reed.