Michigan man Paul Whelan has been released from Russian prison after spending more than five years in custody.

Michigan man Paul Whelan has been released from Russian prison after spending more than five years in custody.

The arrest last week of another American in Russia is likely to hurt Michigan native Paul Whelan.

His feeling of abandonment comes months after the high-profile prisoner swap that brought WNBA star Britney Griner home, but he still sits in Russia in limbo.

We’ll be talking with David Whelan -- he’s the brother of Novi’s Paul Whelan, who has been in a Russian prison for more than four years.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke briefly in New Delhi at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations.

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The brother of an American detained in Russia for nearly four years says the Biden administration “made the right decision” to agree to a prisoner exchange that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner.

The brother of a Metro Detroit native Paul Whelan said he has been in contact with his brother after he was unexpectedly unreachable in November.

An update from Paul Whelan’s family as they told Local 4 that there’s considerable concern about Whelan’s health as he remains behind bars in a Russian prison.

Ambassador Bill Richardson, who has a reputation for helping bring Americans home from difficult abroad situations, is getting involved in helping free Whelan and hopefully escape some of the turmoil he may have encountered while being held hostage.

David Whelan, Paul’s brother, said the phone call from President Biden comes after a week full of emotions.

It’s been a constant battle for Paul Whelan’s family ever since he was sentenced to prison in Russia in 2018.

Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow on Dec. 28, 2018.

Paul Whelan’s parents recorded a Thanksgiving message from their son, who remains inside a Russian prison.

“We must stand up and make clear that American citizens will not be used as political pawns for other countries,” Stevens said. “Period, end of story.”

"The fact remains that Paul is being held on false charges," Stevens said.

Paul Whelan is still in a Russian prison, but he was able to make a call to a CNN reporter, in which he begged for help to secure his freedom.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of spying in Russia, appears in the dock at a court in Moscow (AP)Canada launched a Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations on Monday. The declaration aims to raise awareness and stop the practice of arbitrary detention. Arbitrary detention is when someone is arrested or detained but there is no likelihood or evidence that they committed a crime -- or there hasn’t been a proper due process of law. Canada launched the declaration with an aim ‘to raise awareness and stop the practice of arbitrary detention,’ among others. David WhelanREAD: Michigan family expects Paul Whelan to remain behind bars in Russia for at least another year

DETROIT – The family of a Michigan man convicted of espionage in Russia met with officials with President Joe Biden’s administration. The family said they’re optimistic about Paul Whelan’s release. Whelan is looking at spending the next 14 years in a Russian prison, but his family is holding out hope that the new administration can get him home. Paul Whelan was arrested in Russia when he went to attend a wedding in December 2018. “While Paul has been in prison, there really wasn’t any sort of dialogue, as far as we can tell, between the Russian Federation and the U.S.,” David Whelan said.

MOSCOW The US Embassy in Moscow said Tuesday it had no information on the whereabouts of an American convicted in June of espionage, despite reports that he is being transferred to a prison colony in central Russia. The Interfax news agency cited David Whelan as saying he received the information from the British Embassy. Paul Whelan holds US, British, Irish and Canadian citizenship. Whelans lawyer has said his client was handed a flash drive that had classified information on it that he didnt know about. Read more: Michigan man Paul Whelan sentenced to 16 years in prison on spying charges in Russia

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. A Russian judge sentenced a Novi man accused of being a spy to 16 years in a forced labor camp. The sentencing was expected, but thats little comfort to the family of Paul Whelan as they work to navigate the next steps toward getting him back home. The Whelan family said the one silver lining to Mondays sentencing is that the diplomats can now move in and negotiate their loved ones release. His brother, David Whelan, said this was a necessary formality. It is what it is, David Whelan said.

A Michigan man arrested in Russia on suspicion of being a spy has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Paul Whelan, 50, was found guilty and sentenced Monday. No discussions until a conviction.Meanwhile, Paul Whelan is back in his prison cell after emergency hernia surgery two weeks ago. The Whelan family is left hoping the diplomats, who have only been able to visit him sporadically to date, will now be able to do their work quickly. Our family is hoping as soon as possible the governments will get together and figure