MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) - United States Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman urged the Russian government to release U.S. suspected spy Paul Whelan due to his worsening health.
"I call on the Russian government to immediately release Paul based on his deteriorating health, based on the lack of any evidence whatsoever," Huntsman told reporters after visiting Whelan at the detention facility.
If there was any evidence in this case, which the Russian government revealed, Whelan would have seen it and his lawyer would have seen it, the ambassador said.
"We call on the Russian government to allow Paul to get home to his family, who he hasn't talked to in months, he hasn't even had the courtesy of a phone call to his parents, who are aging," Huntsman added.
"I don't think it serves any purpose to speculate on the politics or the specifics of this case, other than that there is no evidence. My biggest concern as US Ambassador is that there has not been a shred of evidence," he said, not commenting on Whelan's words that he is a political prisoner.
Whelan was apprehended in Moscow on December 28, 2018, and charged with spying. He is facing from ten to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
According to his lawyer, Whelan was indicted on counts of spying for U.S. security services. The USB flash drive seized from him contained information constituting state secrets. Whelan believed it contained personal information about his previous visits to Russia and had not had a chance to check, the lawyer said.
It emerged later that he was citizen of three more countries - the UK, Ireland, and Canada. Their embassies have all received his request for help.
According to the lawyer, Whelan pleaded not guilty and called his prosecution a mistake.
Whelan's brother David said he had come to Moscow for a wedding. He additionally said Whelan was a discharged marine. The Whelan family has asked the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Embassy in Russia, and the Department of State for assistance, David Whelan said.