Imprisoned former US Marine Paul Whelan has reportedly been transferred from the penal colony in Mordovia, Western Russia, where he was serving a 16-year sentence for espionage.
According to his lawyer, Olga Karlova, Whelan's current whereabouts are unknown.
Speaking to the news agency Interfax on Wednesday, Karlova revealed that she has been receiving inquiries about Whelan's location after rumors of a potential prisoner exchange between the US and Russia began circulating in the press.
"I have been receiving inquiries from journalists from various international agencies asking if I know Paul's whereabouts, as there are rumors of a possible exchange," Karlova said.
She has officially requested information on Whelan's whereabouts from the prison administration but has not yet received a response. Additionally, she has requested that the Public Supervisory Committee, a government body responsible for monitoring the humane treatment of prisoners, visit the prison to confirm Whelan's location.
These efforts have also failed to locate the former US Marine.
Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow in 2018 while on a two-week vacation.
He was charged with espionage after Russian authorities allegedly found a flash drive containing secret materials in his hotel room.
Whelan has consistently denied the charges, maintaining that he is not a spy.
His case has drawn international attention and has been a point of tension in US-Russia relations. The US government has repeatedly called for his release, labeling his imprisonment as unjust.
Other High-Profile Transfers
Whelan's transfer comes as seven other high-profile political prisoners have also been unexpectedly moved from their penal colonies in Russia over the past two days.
Among them are opposition politician Ilya Yashin, Memorial head Oleg Orlov, Navalny associates Liliya Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeeva, and anti-war activist Sasha Skochilenko.
Whelan is the first known foreigner to be transferred in this recent wave of movements.
Speculation of a Possible Exchange
The timing of Whelan's transfer has fueled speculation about a potential prisoner exchange between the US and Russia.
Such exchanges have been discussed in the past, most notably in the cases of American basketball player Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who were exchanged in December 2022.
