June 2, 2021
(CNN)Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, called on President Joe Biden to "aggressively discuss and resolve" the issue of US citizens being detained for political purposes when he meets President Vladimir Putin at a summit later this month.
"Decisive action is needed immediately" to stop the "abduction" of US citizens, Whelan told CNN in an exclusive phone interview from the Russian labor camp where he is serving out a 16-year sentence for an espionage charge he vehemently denies.
"This is not an issue of Russia against me; it's an issue of Russia against the United States, and the United States needs to answer this hostage diplomacy situation and resolve it as quickly as possible," he said.
Whelan told CNN he has "a positive feeling" about the forthcoming meeting between the US and Russian leaders, calling it "a good step in the right direction."