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Attorney of US citizen detained in Russia requests court to release him on bail

Vladimir Zherebenkov also informed that he visited Whelan on Wednesday, adding that the defendant is in good spirits

Paul Whelan EPA-EFE/WHELAN FAMILY

Paul Whelan

© EPA-EFE/WHELAN FAMILY

MOSCOW, January 3. /TASS/. Defense attorney of the US citizen Paul Whelan Vladimir Zherebenkov appealed to the court against the detention of Whelan and requested him to be released on bail.

"I have sent an appeal against Whelan’s detention, in my appeal I am asking to change my client’s measure of restraint from arrest to release on bail to the sum determined by the court," Zherebenkov told TASS on Thursday. He also informed that he visited Whelan on Wednesday, adding that the defendant is in good spirits. The attorney refused to comment on the case materials.

A source in the investigative bodies informed that Whelan has been charged with espionage. "The measure of restraint was chosen on December 29, 2018 for the period of two months, until the end of February, 2019. The US citizen has been charged recently," the agency’s source informed, also declining to provide any additional comments.

On Monday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) revealed that US citizen Paul Whelan was detained on December 28, 2018 in Moscow, allegedly while on an a spy mission. A criminal investigation was opened against the US citizen on charges of espionage. He might face between 10 and 20 years in jail.

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