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Paul Whelan, a former US Marine who was released in a prisoner swap after being imprisoned in Russia, has described the harsh conditions he endured during his five years of imprisonment, calling it a form of ‘torture.’
Let’s bring you up to speed: Back in December 2018, Paul Whelan was detained by Russian authorities while attending a friend’s wedding in Moscow. He was arrested by the FSB and accused of espionage, charges that Whelan and his family have consistently denied, describing the trial as a ‘sham.’ In 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian labor camp. Whelan was eventually released in August 2023 as part of a significant prisoner exchange between the US and Russia.

What Whelan said: During an interview on CBS, Whelan said, ‘The Russian government wanted to put pressure on the United States by treating me badly. Sleep deprivation is considered torture. They’d shine a light in my face and take a picture. At first, they would ask me, you know, what my name was, things like that. But it turned into harassment.’
Whelan also described singing the Star-Spangled Banner every day during the five years he was in custody. According to Whelan, he is now struggling with PTSD after enduring years of imprisonment in Russia under harsh conditions.
Disappointment: Whelan also expressed deep disappointment at not being included in the high-profile prisoner swap that led to the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in December 2022. He described the moment as ‘devastating’ when a US official informed him over the phone that Griner, who had been detained in Russia for nine months, was being freed in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, while he would remain in prison.