Not only Paul Whelan: how many Americans are serving sentences in Russian prisons

The US has secured the release of WNBA star Britney Griner after she was in Russian custody for nearly 10 months. How many more Americans are languishing in Russian prisons, reports The Hill.

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US officials have worked hard to free Griner, who was detained in February for carrying a small amount of cannabis oil. Griner was reportedly exchanged for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Griner's case gained attention after she was detained amid soaring tensions between the US and Russia.

On the subject: Five citizens of the Russian Federation were accused in the United States of illegally transporting ammunition and technology from America to Russia

Earlier this year, former US Marine Trevor Reid was also released in a prisoner exchange with Russia.

At least three Americans are still in Russian custody, including another former US Marine, Paul Whelan, who previously negotiated release with Griner.

Since 2017, Russia has detained at least one U.S. citizen a year since XNUMX, according to a September report from the Bring Our Families Home campaign.

Paul Whelan

Whelan, head of corporate security, traveled to Moscow for a wedding in December 2018 and was detained by Russian authorities on charges of espionage.

In 2020, a former Marine was sentenced to 16 years in prison in what the US called a sham trial.

Whelan, 52, was ordered to serve time in a forced labor camp in Mordovia. Last month, Whelan was transferred to the prison hospital for unknown reasons.

Mark Vogel

Vogel, a history teacher from Pittsburgh who taught children of American diplomats abroad, was detained in Moscow in August 2021. He carried a small amount of medical marijuana, which he used for chronic back pain.

In June, Vogel, 61, was sentenced to 14 years in a labor camp.

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The federal government did not recognize Vogel as illegally detained. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pennsylvania) introduced a resolution last month investigating why Vogel was not found wrongfully detained.

Sarah Krivanek

Krivanek, 46, moved to Russia from Fresno, California five years ago to teach at a Russian private school.

Last year, Krivanek was involved in a domestic violence situation with her boyfriend and allegedly grabbed a knife to defend herself, slightly injuring her boyfriend in the process.

Krivanek was arrested by Russian authorities and held in custody for about a year, despite her boyfriend dropping the charges.

She was released last month but detained again at a Moscow airport as she tried to leave the country.
Krivanek is not imprisoned, but he also has no right to return home. She waits in a pre-trial detention center until she figures out how to leave Russia.

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Krivanek's friend is raising money for her release on GoFundMe.

Russian authorities repeatedly denied or delayed requests to speak with Krivanek.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• US Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) star Brittney Griner, who spent several months in a Russian prison on charges of drug possession, was released in exchange for an international arms dealer Viktor Bout.
• American Paul Whelan, who is serving time in a Russian prison, expressed his disappointmentthat no more was done for his release. Initially, they planned to exchange him for the well-known arms dealer Viktor Bout, along with basketball player Brittney Griner.

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