The Russian government said Wednesday it has allowed an American citizen held on espionage charges to have access to U. S. officials seeking answers about his arrest.
WASHINGTON — The Russian government said Wednesday it has allowed an American citizen held on espionage charges to have access to U. S. officials seeking answers about his arrest.
U. S. consular officials were granted access to Michigan resident Paul Whelan for the first time since his arrest during a visit to the country, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman quoted by the state news agency Tass.
Whelan, head of global security for a Michigan-based auto parts supplier, was arrested Friday. In announcing the arrest three days later, the Russian Federal Security Service said Whelan was caught « during an espionage operation, » but gave no details.
The Russian spying charges carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Whelan attained the rank of staff sergeant in December 2004 after the first of two deployments in Iraq. He was an administrative clerk and administrative chief. He was given a bad-conduct discharge in December 2008 at the rank of private.
