Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan’s lawyers will be in the Moscow city court on Tuesday appealing his detention.
However, even if they are successful, the appeal won’t result in Whelan’s freedom. According to a report from the Guardian, Whelan’s brother said he believed Russia was drawing out his case to “see what they can get from the United States for him." The report also says Whelan was visited by Canadian officials last week. They said he lost weight and had not had an independent medical assessment.
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The Novi, Mich. resident was arrested in the Russian capital city in December 2018 on the suspicion of being a spy. He was charged with espionage. In court in September, Whelan called the charges against him “garbage.”
"I appreciate the support," Whelan said. "They know that this is garbage. Everyone in the West knows this is garbage."
During his months in custody, he claims he was injured by doctors and held in isolation.
He’s a Michigan resident who heads global security for auto supplier Borg-Warner. Whelan has traveled to Russia for years and was in Moscow for a wedding.
On Tuesday, in the courtroom where a court denied his appeal to end his detention Whelan said an old friend, a Russian security officer, planted a flash drive on him and set him up to be arrested.
“I did not commit a crime. I went to the Kremlin in the morning. I went back to change my clothes for the wedding. A person turned up in my room, put something in my pocket and then I was arrested,” Whelan said.