Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan | |
|---|---|
Whelan in 2024 | |
| Born | Paul Nicholas Whelan March 5, 1970 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Citizenship |
|
| Detainment | |
| Country | Russia |
| Detained | December 28, 2018 |
| Conviction | Espionage |
| Sentence | 16 years in prison |
| Time held | 7 years, 2 months and 14 days |
| Released | August 1, 2024 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1994–2008 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Conflicts | Iraq War |
Paul Nicholas Whelan (born March 5, 1970) is a Canadian-born United States Marine veteran who was arrested in Russia on December 28, 2018, and accused of spying. On June 15, 2020, he received a 16-year prison sentence. He was released in a United States–Russia prisoner swap in Ankara, Turkey, on August 1, 2024.
Whelan holds U.S., British, Irish, and Canadian citizenship. Whelan was given a bad conduct discharge from the United States Marine Corps in 2008 after being convicted on multiple counts "related to larceny".