Ex-US Marine Paul Whelan attacked in Russian prison by another inmate
- The US citizen was punched in the face and forced to defend himself at a sewing workshop in a high-security penal colony, his brother says
- The US embassy in Moscow has been in phone contact with Whelan, who is getting medical treatment after the incident
Former US Marine Paul Whelan was attacked by another inmate in a Russian prison while serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, Russia’s prison service said on Wednesday, after Whelan’s brother publicised the incident.
The US embassy in Moscow has been in phone contact with Whelan, who American officials understand is getting medical treatment after the incident, the US State Department said.
Whelan, who denies spying on Russia, was punched in the face and forced to defend himself at a sewing workshop in a high-security penal colony in Russia’s Mordovia region southeast of Moscow, his brother Dave Whelan said in a statement.
“A new prisoner blocked part of the production line and Paul asked him to move out of the way. After repeated requests, the prisoner hit Paul in the face, breaking Paul’s glasses in the process, and attempted to hit him a second time,” Dave Whelan said.
“Paul stood up to block the second hit and other prisoners intervened to prevent the prisoner continuing the attack on Paul.”