Former Marine Paul Whelan’s brother shared the difficulties their family is facing on the fourth anniversary of his imprisonment in Russia.
While speaking with The Washington Examiner, David Whelan said, “Milestones are always hard.”
He explained, “Four birthdays, four Christmases, and now the 4th anniversary of Paul’s wrongful detention. I think we share the same concern as every family in this situation, which is that, with each passing year, it will become harder to bring Paul home.”
David Whelan told the Examiner it has “already become hard to combat compassion fatigue, to keep up Paul’s morale and help him to survive as fewer people remember his plight, fewer people write to him, and he starts to worry about being forgotten.”
He continued, “We hope that Paul will be home before the next milestone that reminds him, and us, that, despite good intentions, these efforts can be fleeting. We will need to remember that there are months and possibly still years before he is free.”
A State Department spokesperson said to the Examiner they “continue to press for the immediate release of Paul Whelan at every opportunity,” and, “Despite their best efforts, the Russian government has failed to negotiate in good faith on his case. Paul and his family continue to suffer the consequences of the Russian government’s decision to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens.”
The spokesperson declared the “efforts to bring Paul Whelan home will not cease until he is back home with his family where he belongs.”
The statement argues, “Using wrongful detention as a bargaining chip represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working, and living abroad. The United States opposes this practice everywhere.”
Additionally, David Whelan commented on the release of WNBA player Brittney Griner.
“We were fortunate that, in the wake of Brittney Griner’s release, both she and the U.S. government spoke up in support of Paul,” David Whelan said.
He added, “Despite tomorrow’s anniversary, we know people are aware of Paul’s imprisonment and are doing what they can to help. Americans are writing to him, and the American government is working to secure his freedom.”
Last week, Griner wrote a letter to her supporters urging them to write to Paul Whelan, IJR reported.
She noted there are “too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained.”
In case you missed it:
Grateful @brittneygriner is HOME. And of course she’s already working for others. It’s who she is. We are lucky she exists in this world ? pic.twitter.com/PTcupvfIie
— Ashley ✨ she/her/hers (@godessofvictry) December 21, 2022
She added, “Those families stood alongside you and all who supported the WeAreBG Campaign to bring me home and it’s our turn to support them. I hope you’ll join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued and returned to their families.”
