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British diplomats visit defendant in espionage case — UK embassy in Russia

Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow on December 28, 2018

Paul Whelan Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

Paul Whelan

© Sergei Savostyanov/TASS

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. British diplomats have visited Paul Whelan, charged with espionage in Russia, an official from the UK embassy in Moscow told TASS on Thursday.

"The British embassy’s representatives have provided consular assistance to the British national arrested in Moscow. We continue to maintain contacts with Russian authorities. Our personnel in London are providing assistance to his family," the official said.

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British Embassy confirms that Russia allows consular access to Paul Whelan

Whelan case

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow on December 28, 2018, while on a spy mission. The FSB Investigative Department opened an investigation under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code (espionage), which carries a punishment of ten to 20 years in prison.

Whelan, 48, is corporate security director for automotive parts supplier BorgWarner. According to the Washington Post, he enlisted in the US Marines in 1994 and "rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant, serving two tours in Iraq, in 2004 and 2006." However, Whelan "was discharged for bad conduct in 2008 after being convicted of several charges related to larceny."

Whelan holds US, British, Canadian and Irish passports. In early January, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman visited him at Moscow’s Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.

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