Paul Whelan, who holds citizenship in three countries including Canada, is escorted inside a court building in Moscow for a pretrial appearance on Oct. 24, 2019. Whelan's trial began in March and has proceeded in secrecy. (Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)
VOA: Russian Prosecutors Seek Long Jail Term for Ex-US Marine on Spying Charges
Russian prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to find former Marine Paul Whelan guilty of espionage -- a charge Whelan and U.S. officials vehemently deny -- and sentence him to 18 years in prison.
Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 25 that the Moscow City Court set June 15 as the date to hand down its verdict after a high-profile trial that has strained ties with Washington.
"Frankly speaking, we are all in shock," Zherebenkov said outside the Moscow City Court, where the trial was held.
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Update #1: Russia seeks 18-year jail term for ex-U.S. Marine in spying trial (Reuters)
Update #2: Former US marine Paul Whelan faces 18 years in Russia’s ‘harsh regime colony’ for spying (SCMP/AFP)
WNU Editor: Are the Russians trying to force a trade for this guy? .... Kremlin Offered To Swap Viktor Bout For Up To 15 US Citizens Imprisoned In Russia (September 10, 2019).
