Russian Foreign Ministry denounces U.S. demand to release suspected spy

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday criticized the demand by the U.S. Embassy in Russia to release the suspected spy Paul Whelan out of health concerns.

US national Paul Whelan suspected of espionage against Russia appears at Moscow's Lefortovo District Court for a new detention hearing in which the court is to consider a request by investigators to extend Whelan's pre-charge detention, Moscow, Russia, August 23, 2019. Paul Whelan, a retired United States Army officer who also holds citizenships of Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, was detained in Moscow on 28 December 2018, on suspicion of spying against Russia; according to Whelan's relatives he arrived in Russia on invitation for a friend's wedding. [Photo: TASS via IC/Maxim Grigoryev]

"Letting a person go home, where they can receive the necessary medical help: does it only concern Paul Whelan? There are millions of prisoners in the US, including over 50 Russian citizens, many of them with health issues. Let them go," the Russian ministry responded to the U.S. demand on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Embassy posted a tweet urging the Russian side to release Whelan for him to receive proper medical help, after he complained about his health conditions at a hearing on Friday when Russia's Lefortovo district court ruled to extend his detention for another two months.

Whelan was detained in Moscow by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of espionage on Dec. 28, 2018, although his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding.

A criminal investigation was initiated against him. If convicted, Whelan faces up to 20 years in jail.

The 48-year-old suspect was a U.S. Marine and is currently the head of the security service of a firm producing automobile parts. He also has British, Irish and Canadian citizenship.