A retired U.S. Marine who Russia has accused of being a spy said he was in “great pain” after his prison guards injured him.
Paul Whelan said during a court appearance Friday that he had been injured by security guards at the notorious Lefortovo Prison, according to reports.
“Even Salem witches had more opportunities to defend their rights,” Whelan, 49, told the court.
Accused spy and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a Moscow court today proclaiming his innocence from espionage charges. The court prolonged his detainment until October 29th pending an ongoing FSB investigation. pic.twitter.com/UmxGz6Z4io
— Charles Maynes (@cwmiii3) August 23, 2019
The judge called for a doctor to examine Whelan, but denied his request to change the prosecutor in the case.
Whelan, a private security executive from Michigan, has denied the charges against him and insists he traveled to Russia late last year for a friend’s wedding. He was arrested in a Moscow hotel room after investigators said he received a flash drive that contained classified information. Whelan said he thought the flash drive contained holiday photos.
His arrest came as Russian gun rights activist Maria Butina pleaded guilty in the U.S. to conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate conservative American political circles and influence U.S. relations with Russia. The timing sparked questions about whether Russia may have arrested Whelan to negotiate a possible prisoner exchange.
On Friday, the court extended Whelan’s detention until the end of October, around the same Butina is set to be released from a Tallahassee, Florida, prison and deported back to Russia.
Whelan’s lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said he expects a trial to start later this fall.
