We Must Not Forget Paul Whelan

We should never forget former Marine Paul Whelan.

To recap, Whelan, 53,  is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia after being charged and found guilty of espionage and spying for the U.S. government. Whelan and the U.S. deny these charges, though he remains imprisoned in a labor camp and has been there for five years.

Not many people knew who Whelan was. Whelan is from Michigan and worked as a corporate security executive for auto parts manufacturer Borg-Warner. In that position, Whelan was allowed to connect with law enforcement agencies in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

However, Whelan is no saint. Whelan was discharged dishonorably from the Marine Corps for theft and other poor conduct charges.

What Happened in Russia?

So, how did he find his way to Russia? Fox News said he could use his U.S. passport to enter Russia. He stayed in a hotel in the Moscow area and planned on attending a wedding for a friend while acting as a travel guide for the groom’s family. 

Whelan’s brother, David, said Paul planned to leave the country on a flight from St. Petersburg in January 2019. But he never made it. On Dec. 28, 2018, Whelan was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service. Officials claim Whelan met with a Russian citizen who gave Whelan a USB drive containing classified material. Russian news agencies also reported that Whelan had $80,000 in cash that was confiscated.

Fast forward to WNBA and Olympics star Brittney Griner. She was arrested at a Russian airport when officials found cannabis oil in her vape cartridges in February 2022. Griner was subsequently sentenced to nine years. Griner was the perfect bargaining chip for Russia to dictate a potential swap.

Enter Whelan. With Griner’s arrest and conviction, this was a chance for Whelan to exchange with Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

More Frustration

Unfortunately for Whelan, the Russians had other ideas. A swap was made, but Russia would only deal for Griner, not Whelan. The Biden administration agreed, and Whelan stayed behind. While Whelan, his family, and friends were disappointed, they were happy to see that Griner got to go home.

This wasn’t Whelan’s first involvement with a possible prisoner exchange. This occurred in April 2022 when the Biden administration agreed to a prisoner exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling and U.S. citizen and former Marine Trevor Reed. Whelan was left behind.

Whelan’s family and friends are angry and frustrated that he remains in a Russian prison camp. President Joe Biden said his administration would keep fighting for Whelan’s release. Yet, The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, a group fighting for U.S. citizens detained in foreign countries, called out the former and current presidential administrations for failing to secure Whelan’s release.

Do Not Give Up

But let’s be clear; there are many more Americans out there held in foreign countries, and, quite frankly, most of them should not be there. Often, most of those Americans detained are in countries not friendly toward Americans, such as Russia, China, Iran, and Syria, according to the Foley Foundation and reported by the Washington Post. The charges against these Americans are often false and are nothing more than hostages.

The number of Americans held in foreign countries is unknown since the U.S. government does not release such a number to the public. I would venture to say that the numbers are in the hundreds. If you want to read some of the stories about detainees, check out this slideshow by the Post. 

I’m unsure about the circumstances surrounding these Americans being detained in foreign countries, but I employ those with family or friends who are trapped not to give up. Keep the pressure on your lawmakers and organizations that this is unacceptable and demand an immediate release.

Above all, people like Whelan should not be forgotten.

Be Careful When You Travel

One thing is for sure. Those of you who plan on traveling abroad, especially if your destination is one of those countries not friendly toward Americans, you need to be extra cautious. 

I have not traveled to Europe or Asia, so I’m unfamiliar with the landscape. But if I planned to vacation there, or maybe somewhere such as Moscow or Tehran, I would work extra hard to make things go as smoothly as possible and not venture into harm’s way.

That means finding out the dos and don’ts when traveling to these countries. For instance, make sure your passport is sound, try to travel as lightly as possible, set hotel reservations well ahead of time, and confirm a day before traveling that everything is still good. Be careful what you take into these countries and when you depart. Please do not take anything that could be construed as illegal, or, should I say, do not repeat Griner’s mistake.

I would go online and get as much information as possible if it were me. There is nothing wrong with doing homework and checking out what’s happening in the region you’re traveling to. 

Furthermore, avoid traveling alone. I would feel pretty sketchy wandering around places like this without an escort. Bring a friend or family member with you and always stay together to increase chances for a safe trip. I know one thing: I wouldn’t travel to these countries without going with someone I’m comfortable with.

Don’t end up being an American victim.