Russia on Thursday released a US Army veteran who had been detained at a border post with Poland for nine monthsannounced the US negotiator and former politician Bill Richardson.
Taylor Dudley had been in custody since April 2022 and was one of several detained Americans whom Richardson and US authorities were seeking to release. The negotiations for the release were made “discreetly”, Richardson said.
“As we celebrate the safe return of Taylor, we remain deeply concerned about the fate of Paul Whelan and committed to working towards his return,” it added.
Former US soldier Whelan was arrested in Russia in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for “espionage”, despite his denials.
The United States has worked to secure his release ever since. President Joe Biden promised in December that would “never” give up efforts to achieve itafter American basketball star Brittney Griner was released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“Unfortunately, Moscow is treating Paul’s (Whelan) case differently than Brittney’s, and while we failed to secure Paul’s release, we will never give up,” Biden said at the time. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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