Pompeo: US seeking access to ex-marine detained in Russia on spy charges
Secretary of state says ‘if the detention is not appropriate we will demand his immediate return’
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US hopes to gain access soon to a former Marine who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges and that “if the detention is not appropriate we will demand his immediate return”.
Paul Whelan, who is head of global security for a Michigan-based auto parts supplier, was arrested on Friday. In announcing the arrest three days later, the Russian Federal Security Service said he was caught “during an espionage operation”, but it gave no details.