Blinken Reaffirms Efforts to Secure Release of Americans Detained Abroad

In a recent call with Paul Whelan, detained in Russia, Secretary Blinken underscored the U.S. commitment to freeing wrongfully detained citizens.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia, on Monday, marking at least the third time they have communicated.
Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to securing the release of Whelan and other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
Paul Whelan, a former Marine, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges, which he and the U.S. government deny.
The U.S. has made multiple proposals for Whelan's release, but Russia has rejected them.
Blinken also mentioned efforts to free jailed journalist Evan Gershkovich and highlighted the Biden administration's broader push against arbitrary detention.