Russian prosecutors requested a courtroom on Monday to condemn former U.S. marine Paul Whelan, who’s on trial accused of spying for the United States, to 18 years in a most safety jail, his lawyer stated.
Whelan, a U.S. nationwide who additionally holds British, Canadian and Irish passports, was detained in December 2018. He has strenuously denied the cost, saying he was arrange in a sting.
The courtroom will announce its verdict on June 15, Whelan’s lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov stated after Monday’s listening to.
“The prosecution has made a really harsh demand. It’s completely unjustified and groundless. To be trustworthy, we’re in shock,” Whelan’s lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov informed reporters after Monday’s listening to.
His trial, which started on March 23, has been closed to the general public as its content material broaches categorized info. Many of
the case’s particulars have emerged by way of his lawyer.
U.S. Ambassador in Moscow John Sullivan stated the proceedings amounted to a “secret trial” and a “mockery of justice.”
“There is not any legitimacy to a process that’s hidden behind closed doorways. It just isn’t clear, it’s not truthful and it’s not neutral,” he stated.
Allegations of poor remedy
Whelan, who turned 50 in custody this yr, has used his appearances at hearings to allege he has been ill-treated by jail guards and been denied medical consideration.
Russian authorities have accused him of faking well being issues to attract consideration to his case.
Whelan, born in Ottawa to British mother and father, resided in Michigan for greater than twenty years previous to his arrest.
Whelan served in the Marine Corps however was convicted at a court-martial of fees that included larceny whereas serving as an administrative clerk in Iraq in 2006. He was diminished in rank from employees sergeant to corporal and given a foul conduct discharge from the service.
WATCH l Sept. 2019: Whelan denounces fees:
The prosecution in the Russian case accuses Whelan of being at the least a rating U.S. army intelligence colonel and that he was caught red-handed making an attempt to acquire secrets and techniques, his lawyer stated.
The defence stated Whelan had solely believed he was receiving pictures of a visit that he and an acquaintance had been on, not categorized materials, and that he had been tricked, Zherebenkov stated.
“This was a sport by Russia’s Federal Security Service,” he stated.
U.S. authorities have referred to as the costs towards Whelan spurious and have referred to as on Russia to launch him, describing the case as a “vital impediment” to bettering bilateral ties.
