MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. US national Paul Whelan, accused of spying against Russia, will be able to contact his family in the US by phone shortly, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"The court sanctioned provision of phone calls to the defendant to his family members in the US. We believe such calls will be provided shortly," Zakharova said.
The diplomat explained that there is nothing surprising in the closed nature of Whelan’s court hearing, which US Ambassador John Sullivan was unable to attend. According to Russian legislation — just like in a number of other countries — this might happen if the case involves information that constitutes national secret.
Responding to US criticism regarding the court proceedings against Whelan, Zakharova recalled the court process against Maria Butina. Unlike Whelan, caught red-handed, Butina was apprehended without required grounds, and all inquiries of the Russian representatives drew a reply that challenging rulings of the US court is unacceptable.
"Somehow, they do not hesitate to voice their assessments of the Russian court process," the spokeswoman noted.
"The court proceedings [on the Whelan’s case] are conducted in strict compliance with the Russian law and in adherence to all required procedures," Zakharova underscored, adding that the next hearing will take place next week.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) apprehended Whelan, a citizen of the US, the UK, Canada and Ireland, on December 28, 2018, in Moscow, in the middle of a spy action. The FSB Investigative Directorate initiated criminal proceedings on charges of espionage, which carries a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison. According to the defense, the investigators accuse Whelan of espionage in favor of the US intelligence services; a flash drive found on Whelan included information that constitutes a national secret. Whelan denies his guilt and his defense insists that the case is fabricated.