US urges Russia's Lavrov to see suffering of Whelan's sister
The U_S_ has brought the sister of an American imprisoned in Russia to the U_N_ Security Council for a session being chaired by the Russian foreign minister, urging him to “look into her eyes and see her suffering.”
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. brought the sister of an American imprisoned in Russia to the U.N. Security Council on Monday for a session being chaired by the Russian foreign minister, urging him to “look into her eyes and see her suffering.”
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to release Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted of espionage. His family and the U.S. government have called the charges baseless.
Thomas-Greenfield also urged him to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on March 29 and accused of trying to obtain classified information.
She accused Russia of using them as “political bargaining chips” and urged Moscow “to cease this barbaric practice once and for all.”
