Brittney Griner is in U.S. custody after a 1-for-1 prisoner swap with Russia. But the swap means that retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained since 2018, will remain in Russian custody. Here's what Paul's brother, David Whelan, had to say.
but called his brother's continued detention"a catastrophe" in a statement issued after the WNBA star's release on Thursday.
Noting the prisoner exchange that took place in the United Arab Emirates to secure Griner's release, which followed months of negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, he added:"The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen."
David Whelan said the"early warning meant that our family has been able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a catastrophe for Paul." "It is so important to me that it is clear that we do not begrudge Ms. Griner her freedom," David Whelan wrote. However, he also called on the U.S. to be more assertive in its efforts to secure his brother's release, and proposed that authorities implement"a swifter, more direct response" to imprisoned Americans."In Russia's case, this may mean taking more law-breaking, Kremlin-connected Russians into custody.
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