NOVI (WWJ) - Novi native Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges that he and the U.S. government claim are bogus, made a rare appearance in a video broadcast by Russian state media on Monday.
For Paul's family and friends, it's their first glimpse of him in over three long years.
"Paul Whelan has been a hostage of the Kremlin for 1,704 days," Paul's twin brother, David Whelan, wrote in an update to their GoFundMe page on Monday, Aug. 28.
"Today was the first time I've seen what he really looks like since June 2020," he continued. "So thank you, Russia Today, because although your reporting is the worst sort of propaganda and you are the mouthpiece for war criminals, at least I could see what Paul looks like after all of these years."
David said throughout the video, he could see his brother's "strength and determination and contempt."
"Our favorite moment is at 5:48 when he stares right at the camera," he wrote. "...I wish I could see Paul under better circumstances. But it was good to see him again and to see the fight remains in his eyes. It is good to know Paul remains unbowed."
Paul, who is a Michigan resident, was arrested in 2018 while he was in Russia on allegations of being a spy for the U.S. Whelan has adamantly denied all allegations and Russian officials have never presented evidence against him publicly.
Whelan was given a 16 year sentence in a Russian labor camp where he remains to this day.
David wrote that for those that have asked about Paul's work or living conditions within the infamous IK-17 prison camp, the video will "give you some idea."
"As some of you may remember, a Russia Today propaganda team showed up at IK-17 in May to film Paul. Not only did he not want to be interviewed, which you can see he politely declined, prison staff retaliated against him after he didn't participate," David wrote in his update.
Paul and David's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, also wrote that the family believes Paul was forced to consent to appear in the video.
"He had told us, and the Embassy, that he absolutely did not want to be interviewed by Russia Today," Elizabeth said.
David described the video as a dark and conspiratorial propaganda piece that is an "example of the way Russia spins the information to undermine Paul and the U.S,'s efforts to get him home."
"Despite the interviewer's lack of hope for Paul, you can see Paul's straightforward gaze. And in the months since this video was captured in May, Paul has remained aware that his cause is not forgotten, that his freedom remains a priority for the White House," David continued.
In May of 2023, the WSJ reported that the U.S. was engaging "with countries that hold Russian citizens in custody, and is open to incorporating those prisoners in a deal" to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and other Americans detained in Russia, including Paul.
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"U.S. officials see a prisoner exchange with Moscow as the most likely path for the U.S. to win freedom for the two men, both of whom it deems to be wrongfully detained," WSJ reported at the time.
The U.S. is turning to its allies for help because it doesn't currently have any high-level Russian prisoners in custody that it could use for bargaining chips, according to CNN.
The U.S. had also attempted to secure Paul's release last December when it brokered a deal to exchange infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for American basketball star Brittney Griner, who was detained for nearly 10 months on drug-related charges -- but Russia refused to release Paul.
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Despite the trials, Elizabeth expressed her gratitude for everyone that has continued to support their efforts.
"Thanks for following Paul's case, and for your generosity in supporting Paul through his ordeal," she wrote. "Thanks to you, we know we can get him through this until eventually a way is found to get him home to Michigan."