In a shocking turn of events, former Marine Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia for five years on espionage charges, expressed his feeling of being "abandoned" by the United States. Whelan's arrest took place in December 2018, and he was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison, a move that both his family and the U.S. government consider unjust.

While the U.S. government and Whelan's family have been advocating for his release, Washington has engaged in successful negotiations for two separate prisoner swaps with Russia, neither of which included Whelan. This has only deepened Whelan's sense of abandonment, as he remains incarcerated in Russia with no concrete resolution in sight.

Whelan revealed that the U.S. has put forward various proposals, but they do not align with Russia's demands. The former Marine described the situation as "extremely stressful" and voiced his belief that the U.S. has essentially left him to fend for himself.

During Donald Trump's presidency, Moscow expressed interest in trading Whelan for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Ultimately, however, that exchange did not materialize. In another instance, Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine from Texas who was held in Moscow, was successfully returned to the United States as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia in May 2022. Unfortunately, Whelan was not included in any such negotiations.

Whelan's plea for support coincides with an alarming trend of Americans being detained in Russia. The most recent high-profile case involves Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is currently imprisoned on espionage charges, and the United States is actively working to secure his release.

The Biden administration has proposed a potential deal to secure the freedom of both Whelan and Gershkovich. The offer includes the release of several Russian nationals held on espionage charges abroad. While the details of this proposal remain undisclosed, it underscores the ongoing efforts of the United States to secure the release of its citizens imprisoned in Russia.

The plight of Paul Whelan serves as a reminder of the complex and strained relationship between the United States and Russia. As efforts continue to secure his release, it remains to be seen whether a resolution can be reached that respects justice and human rights.