- Title: Paul Whelan release crucial for future of U.S.-Russia ties - ambassador Huntsman
- Date: 2nd October 2019
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS) AMBASSADOR IN RUSSIA JON HUNTSMAN'S CAR DRIVES UP TO LEFORTOVO PRISON VARIOUS OF HUNTSMAN WALKING OUT OF CAR TO PRISON GROUNDS BARBED WIRE ON FENCE US EMBASSY VEHICLE IN FRONT OF PRISON (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMBASSADOR IN RUSSIA JON HUNTSMAN, SAYING: "I call on the Russian government to immediately release Paul, based on his deteriorating health, based upon the lack of any evidence whatsoever. If there was any evidence in this case - and we've heard from the Russian government that he was caught red-handed - if there was any evidence to that end, Paul would have seen it and certainly his lawyer would have seen it. But we have seen nothing. So we call on the Russian government to allow Paul to get home to his family who he has not talked to in nine months, he has not had even the courtesy of a phone call with his parents." SIGN ABOVE ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMBASSADOR IN RUSSIA JON HUNTSMAN, SAYING: "We have had two most difficult years in the history of the U.S.-Russia relationship, certainly if measured by the post-Cold War period. We have maintained lines of communication, which when I arrived had been shut. We have maintained an embassy presence, which although it's been cut down continues to get the work done. And our goal is to stabilise this very important bilateral relationship. We work very hard to that end. And we will continue to. It is issues like this concerning Paul Whelan that is very important for the United States and would be most helpful to the progress of the U.S.- Russia relationship that we can get this resolved." U.S. FLAG ON CAR PRISON ENTRANCE
- Embargoed: 16th October 2019 17:50
- Keywords: Russia United States Whelan marine spy ambassador Jon Huntsman
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZEOZLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Paul Whelan release is a crucial issue which could help mend the U.S.-Russia relations, outgoing ambassador in Moscow, Jon Huntsman, said on Wednesday (October 2) after seeing the detainee in Lefortovo prison.
Paul Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Canadian and Irish passports was brought to the court hearing on Friday and said that prison authorities in Moscow have hurt him, Interfax news agency reported.
Whelan was detained in a Moscow hotel room on Dec. 28 last year and accused of espionage. He had been given a flash drive that his lawyer said Whelan thought contained holiday photos, but that actually held classified information.
Huntsman urged Russian authority to release Whelan due to his deteriorating health condition and lack of presented evidence.
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