NEW YORK, January 16. /TASS/. Irish consular staff visited Paul Whelan detained in Russia on espionage charges, Whelan's brother David told TASS in an e-mail.

"The Irish consular staff met with Paul today [on Wednesday]. They spent about an hour with Paul and were able to receive some messages to relay to our family. This was the first visit by any consular staff since January 2d [sic], when the US Embassy staff first saw Paul," David Whelan said.

"The Irish consular staff said the prison conditions were okay, that he had his glasses, and was working on learning some Russian words. The Irish representatives were able to give toiletries (razor, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush) sent over by the UK Embassy for Paul," he added.

"A visit is scheduled for US Embassy staff tomorrow (1/17/2019). We're thankful for the efforts made on Paul's behalf and will be in close contact with the Irish, US, and other consular staff as they are able to secure visits to see Paul," he concluded.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow "while he was on a spy mission." The FSB Investigative Department opened a criminal case under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code (espionage), which carries a punishment of 10 to 20 years in prison. Whelan holds citizenship of the US, UK, Ireland and Canada. On January 2, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman visited Whelan at the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center.