MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - The first appellate court of general jurisdiction will verify the legality of the extension of custody until late March for Paul Whelan, a citizen of the United States, Ireland, Canada, and the United Kingdom who is charged with espionage in Russia.
"A hearing of the defense appeal against the extension of the arrest period for Whelan is due at the appeals court on February 4," Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told Interfax.
The defense requests that the court place Whelan under house arrest.
The Moscow City Court extended Whelan's custody period until March 29 late last month.