Moscow. Aug 26 (Interfax) - The U.S. consul may visit Paul Whelan, an American citizen charged with espionage in Russia, on Tuesday, August 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
"Going back to the evidence, Paul was caught red-handed during a spy operation. The Russian government provides consular access to Whelan on a regular basis. The next visit is scheduled for tomorrow. What kind of isolation are we talking about?" the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter in reply to an earlier statement posted on the U.S. embassy's Twitter page.
Whelan's attorney Vladimir Zherebenkov said that the defense had submitted a motion to the Lefortovo detention facility to allow Whelan to undergo surgery in Russia.
The U.S. embassy in Moscow said earlier that Whelan's health was threatened.
On August 23, the U.S. embassy requested urgent consular access to Whelan in reaction to his health complaints.