Paul Whelan says Biden has ‘abandoned’ him in Russian prison: ‘Serious betrayal’

Retired Marine Paul Whelan has accused President Biden of a “serious betrayal” by abandoning him in a brutal Russian prison on bogus spying charges.

“It’s five years. It’s unfathomable to me that they’ve left me behind,” Whelan, 53, told the BBC by phone from the labor camp where he is serving a 16-year sentence.

“They’ve basically abandoned me here.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the US is “very actively working” on trying to free Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is also being held in Russia on espionage charges.

Both maintain their innocence and the US considers them “wrongfully detained.”

But Whelan holds out little hope having heard such promises before, he told the BBC, whose correspondent said he has never heard the retired Marine sound so frustrated or pessimistic.

“All the promises made have been empty,” Whelan said.

“I’m extremely concerned. With each case, my case is going to the back of the line,” he said of seeing other Americans, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, being released in prisoner swaps without him.

“They’ve kind of just left me in the dust.”

While Blinken said Wednesday that the US “will leave no stone unturned” in trying to get him and Gershkovich home, Whelan accused the Biden Administration of not doing enough.

“I know the US have all sorts of proposals, but it’s not what the Russians want,” Whelan complained, with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently confirming a deal would have to be “one that suits” him.

“So they go back and forth, like throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.

“The problem is, it’s my life that’s draining away while they do this. It’s been five years!” he added

Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence at a labor camp in the remote Republican of Mordovia region, complained of his living conditions, which he said had “seriously declined.”

He reported black mold on his barracks’ walls and no heating despite the freezing temperatures outside.

Earlier this month, the State Department said that Russia had rejected a “significant” new offer for Whelan and Gershkovich’s release.

State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller reiterated Tuesday that Russia had turned down several “significant proposals” for the Americans’ release, “one as recently as a few weeks ago.”

But Miller pledged to “continue to look for ways to engage with the Russian government to bring them home.”