The whereabouts of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remain unknown as his lawyer, Olga Karlova, reported a lack of response from prison officials amidst speculation of a possible prisoner exchange with the West by Russia.
Whelan, arrested in Moscow in 2018 on spying charges, is serving a 16-year sentence which the U.S. government contests. Holding multiple passports, Whelan expressed feeling abandoned by Washington after being excluded from recent prisoner swaps.
Recent movements of political prisoners in Russia, including journalists like Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, have fueled suspicions of an imminent exchange with Western nations. Speculations suggest a potential swap involving Russian nationals jailed in the West may be on the horizon.
AFP contributed to this report.
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