Jailed US Marine Paul Whelan reportedly transferred from prison as chances of exchange grow

Imprisoned former US Marine Paul Whelan has been transferred from the penal colony in Mordovia, Western Russia, where he had been serving a 16-year sentence for espionage, and his current whereabouts are unknown, his lawyer said on Wednesday, news agency Interfax reported.

"I have been receiving inquiries from journalists from various international agencies asking if I know Paul's whereabouts, as there are rumours of a possible exchange," said Whelan’s lawyer, Olga Karlova. She added that she had sent an official request to the prison administration to learn her client’s location, but had not yet received a response.

Karlova also said that she had submitted a public request that the Public Supervisory Committee, the government body responsible for ensuring that prisoners are treated humanely, visit the prison to confirm Whelan's location.

Whelan, who went to Moscow on what was supposed to be a two-week vacation in 2018 and still hasn’t returned, was arrested by the authorities at his hotel. After a flash drive allegedly containing secret materials was found in his hotel room, he was charged with espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He has always denied all accusations of being a spy.

Seven high-profile political prisoners have been unexpectedly transferred from their penal colonies in the past two days, including opposition politician Ilya Yashin, Memorial head Oleg Orlov, Navalny associates Liliya Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeeva, and anti-war activist Sasha Skochilenko. Whelan is the first foreigner known to have been transferred, however.