Russia Seeks 18 Years for American Charged as Spy: Interfax
Russia Seeks 18 Years for American Charged as Spy, Interfax Says
(Bloomberg) -- Russian prosecutors asked for an 18-year sentence for former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is on trial in Moscow charged with spying, the Interfax news service reported, citing his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov.
Whelan denies the allegations and claims he was set up by a Russian Federal Security Service major who owed him 100,000 rubles ($1,400). He has been detained in Moscow for 17 months and tried in a closed courtroom on the spy charges, which carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
“There is no legitimacy to a procedure that is hidden behind closed doors,” Ambassador John Sullivan said of Whelan’s trial on the U.S. Embassy’s twitter. “It is not transparent, it is not fair, and it is not impartial.”
In July, Interfax quoted a senior Russian official as proposing a swap of Whelan for a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.
Sentencing will be held on June 15, Interfax reported, citing Zherebenkov.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.