Russia Allows US Spy Suspect To Receive Visits From Diplomats

This undated photo provided by the Whelan family shows Paul Whelan in Iceland. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges, was visiting Moscow over the holidays to attend a wedding when he s... This undated photo provided by the Whelan family shows Paul Whelan in Iceland. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in Russia on espionage charges, was visiting Moscow over the holidays to attend a wedding when he suddenly disappeared, his brother said Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. (Courtesy of the Whelan Family via AP) MORE LESS

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian Foreign Ministry says Paul Whelan, the American detained in Moscow on suspicion of spying, may receive visits from diplomats from the three other countries whose citizenship he holds.

When Whelan was arrested in late December, he was identified only as an American. Last week, it emerged that he also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship. U.S. Ambassador Jon Hunstman Jr. visited him in prison last week.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the state news agency RIA-Novosti that the other countries have applied for consular visits and “if the arrestee confirms that he wants these visits they will be arranged.”

Whelan’s twin brother David said Monday that “the U.S. Embassy has indicated it will continue to lead on consular efforts, since Paul entered Russia on a U.S. passport.”

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  1. Huntsman visited him on Jan 2 2019 according to this, TPM Headline should say “Consular Staff” instead of “Diplomats”

    US ambassador visits ex-marine held in Russia on spy charges | Russia | The Guardian
    A state department spokesperson said that Ambassador Huntsman had visited Whelan on Wednesday in the Lefortovo detention facility, a former KGB prison in Moscow.

    “Ambassador Huntsman expressed his support for Mr Whelan and offered the embassy’s assistance,” the spokesperson said, adding that Huntsman had subsequently phoned Whelan’s family.

    The state department also said it had “expressed our concern about the delay in consular access through diplomatic channels”.

  2. Too weird. I guess Putin isn’t getting the kind of leverage he hoped out of this strange arrest so far, so this is the best his thugs can do in the meantime. He was probably hoping tRump would have tweeted about this guy by now. Sorry Putin, tRump’s preoccupied with a dumb not concrete, steel, metaphor, memory device of a wall and oh yeah, the Mueller investigation.

    Call back later.

  3. he was identified only as an American. Last week, it emerged that he also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship.

    Nothing says love of your country like 4 citizenships…

  4. How many wives does he have ?

  5. We ARE a nation of immigrants…

    It’s okay for people to be proud of their heritage, besides, all of those are basically extensions of the USA anyways…

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