American Man Released from Russian Prison Sparks Criticism Towards Putin

Detroit, MI

Earlier this month, Paul Whelan, a man from Novi, Michigan made headlines once again as he returned home after being released from a Russian prison. He had nothing but criticism for Russian president Vladimir Putin following his release.

Whelan’s freedom came as a result of a massive prisoner swap that took months of negotiations. It resulted in the release of two dozen people and was one of the largest prisoner swaps to occur in post-Soviet history.

The Novi native expressed relief following his ordeal, noting, “I’m never going back there again.” Upon his return to U.S soil, he voiced his frustration over his extended prison stay, “This is how Putin runs his government. This is how Putin runs his country.”

Whelan was in Russia for a wedding when he was arrested in late 2018 on espionage charges. There was no formal trial, no evidence, yet he was sentenced to 16 years in the prison system. A total of five years, seven months, and five days were spent in captivity, which Whelan described as “absolute nonsense“.

On August 1st, Whelan, along with two other freed prisoners, arrived in San Antonio, Texas, for medical evaluations before returning to his home state. He expressed relief and gratitude towards his family and friends for their constant support.

He fondly expressed one of his immediate wishes for his return, hoping to enjoy a steak in Texas. There has been no official word on when Whelan might finally make his journey home to Michigan.

Regardless, Whelan’s journey is an example of the complexities of international diplomacy and negotiation, and his narrative acts as a stark reminder of the delicate balance and often tense relations between nations.