Supporters say Paul Whelan is more hapless tourist than James Bond — and that the Russians know it. But that doesn’t make freeing him any easier.
Tag: Prisons and Prisoners
Eric Allison, Prison Reporter Who Knew the Beat All Too Well, Dies at 79
A career criminal in England for nearly a half-century, he was hired by The Guardian to report on injustices in prisons — work that led to exposés and honors.
When a Prisoner Swap Is a Rorschach-Test
The scene on the tarmac with Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout didn’t just show a prisoner trade. It told the story of where two rival countries had landed decades after the Cold War.
Viktor Bout Tells Maria Butina the US Is Trying to ‘Destroy’ Russia
He made the comments in an interview with Maria Butina, the Russian member of Parliament who served a little over a year in U.S. prisons.
What to Know About the Two Americans Still Detained in Russia
The State Department has urged U.S. citizens not to travel to Russia and, if they are in the country, to ‘leave immediately.’
After Release, Brittney Griner Faces Reintegration
With her prison ordeal over, Brittney Griner will now face the challenge of transitioning back into life at home.
Russian State Media Releases Video of Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout Swap
The images, verified by The New York Times, show Ms. Griner being traded for the arms dealer Viktor Bout on the tarmac at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Brittney Griner’s Release Puts a Spotlight on Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive, was arrested at a Moscow hotel in December 2018. President Biden says his administration is still working on getting him released.
Jacob Zuma’s Release Was Unlawful, South African Court Rules
The Supreme Court decision raises the possibility that former President Jacob Zuma, who was granted medical parole from a contempt-of-court sentence, may have to return to prison.
In Yahidne, Ukraine, a Battered School Holds Memories of Trauma
In Yahidne, a village in northern Ukraine, a basement became a virtual prison for hundreds of residents for four weeks. Months later, that horror lingers.