Day 1704 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 28, 2023 - The Silver Lining

Paul Whelan has been a hostage of the Kremlin for 1,704 days.  Today was the first time we've seen what he really looks like since June 2020.  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 we could see what Paul looks like after all of these years.

https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/russian/video/2023.08/64ec99d7ae5ac957b93fa6b4.mp4

Our favorite moment is at 5:48 when he stares right at the camera.  We see strength and determinaton and contempt.  For those of you who have been asking about his work conditions or living conditions, you'll find plenty of B-roll in this clip.  We have never really had a clear picture of the interviewing room, where he appearst to be meeting US Ambassador Lynne Tracy.

Paul Whelan, American citizen wrongfully detained in Russia, is shown in prison camp IK-17 in Mordovia.

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.  https://ofaolain.com/pipermail/freepaulwhelan-updates_ofaolain.com/2023-May/000181.html  Without any real content, the interviewer has crafted a dark and conspiratorial piece.  Perhaps that's what plays in Pskov.  

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.  We see this in response to media questions [Fox News, 8/23] as well as from the State Department directly, as with Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield's recent Tweet.  Paul experiences it in extraordinary status updates from people like Secretary of State Blinken.

We wish we 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.  

 

 
 

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  1. Day 1693 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 17, 2023 - Secretary Blinken Call to Paul
  2. Day 1663 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 18, 2023 - Mail surge
  3. Day 1658 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 13, 2023 - US Government Perseveres
  4. Day 1642 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 21, 2023 - Flora Has Died
  5. Day 1636 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 15, 2023 - House Resolution Passes
  6. Day 1634 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 13, 2023 - Congress Acts, Retaliation Continues
  7. Day 1611 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 27, 2023 - IK-17 Retaliates For Non-Russia Today Participation
  8. Day 1599 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 15, 2023 - Day 1,600 Approaches
  9. Day 1591 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 7, 2023 - Ambassador's Visit
  10. Day 1574 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 24, 2023 - UN Spotlight on Russian Hostage Taking
  11. Day 1570 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 17, 2023 - Abandoned
  12. Day 1561 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 7, 2023 - Political Advocacy for Wrongfully Detained Americans
  13. Day 1554 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 31, 2023 - New Congressional Resolutions
  14. Day 1553 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 30, 2023 - Potential Hostage, No Path to Freedom
  15. Day 1546 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 23, 2023 - Not Forgotten, But Not Home
  16. Day 1525 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 2, 2023 - Secretary Blinken Speaks Up
  17. Day 1500 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - February 5, 2023 - 1,500 Days a Hostage
  18. Day 1490 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - January 26, 2023 - [Paul Whelan] Ambassador Tracy Reaches Moscow
  19. Day 1461 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 28, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Four Years a Hostage
  20. Day 1441 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 8, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Hooray for Brittney!
  21. Day 1431 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 28, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] No Calls
  22. Day 1421 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 18, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Another Consular Visit
  23. Day 1413 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 10, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Veteran in a Foreign Land
  24. Day 1387 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - October 15, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Paul, Other IK-17 Prisoners Walk for Foley Freedom Run
  25. Day 1384 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - October 12, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Paul Calls Home
  26. Day 1378 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - October 6, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Russia Continues to Act in Bad Faith
  27. Day 1359 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - September 17, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Meeting with President Biden
  28. Day 1348 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - September 4, 2022 - [Paul Whelan] Toil and Trouble
  29. Day 1316 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 5, 2022 - Watch and Wait
  30. Day 1313 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 2, 2022 - Will Paul Hang in the Wind Again?
  31. Day 1306 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 27, 2022 - US offer to Russian Government
  32. Day 1300 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 19, 2022 - 1,300 Days, But Progress by Biden Administration
  33. Day 1292 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 12, 2022 - Thanks to President Biden, Hope for Governor Richardson
  34. Day 1288 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 8, 2022 - President Biden Calls
  35. Day 1286 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 6, 2022 - Unfocused White House
  36. Day 1273 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 22, 2022 - Visits by the US, UK
  37. Day 1258 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 8, 2022 - Trades Off the Table #NotAllTools
  38. Day 1243 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 24, 2022 - Continue the Fight
  39. Day 1238 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 19, 2022 - What Does It Take?
  40. Day 1217 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 28, 2022 - Third Congressional Resolution Passed
  41. Day 1216 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 27, 2022 - Trevor Reed Released
  42. Day 1181 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 23, 2022 - Paul Saves An Attempted Suicide
  43. Day 1161 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 3, 2022 - Concessions Clarified
  44. Day 1133 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - February 3, 2022 - Prison Investigations
  45. Day 1120 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - January 21, 2022 - Secretary Blinken Comments
  46. Day 1096 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 28, 2021 - Three Years a Hostage
  47. Day 1074 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 6, 2021 - US Engagement on Wrongful Detainees
  48. Day 1070 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 2, 2021 - Additional-Corruption-Investigations
  49. Day 1064 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 26, 2021 - Back in Contact
  50. Day 1057 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 19, 2021 - IK-17 Warden Denisov Arrested
  51. Day 1056 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 18, 2021 - Prison Retaliation
  52. Day 1046 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 8, 2021 - Paul waits
  53. Day 1000 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 23, 2021 - 1000 Days a Hostage
  54. Day 993 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 16, 2021 - Three months since Biden/Putin Summit
  55. Day 985 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 8, 2021 - Mordovian Supreme Court to Hear Transfer Request
  56. Day 966 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 20, 2021 - Lawyers File a Motion to Transfer
  57. Day 955 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 9, 2021 - Out of Solitary
  58. Day 950 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 4, 2021 - Still a Russian Government Hostage
  59. Day 938 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 23, 2021 - Senate Resolution Passes
  60. Day 936 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 21, 2021 - Silent Summer
  61. Day 920 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - July 5, 2021 - Back at IK-17
  62. Day 913 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 29, 2021 - Where's Whelan?
  63. Day 899 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 14, 2021 - Request for President Biden
  64. Day 895 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 10, 2021 - Milestones
  65. Day 891 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - June 7, 2021 - Retaliation and Visitors
  66. Day 880 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 26, 2021 - Consular Support, Presidential Summit
  67. Day 867 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - May 14, 2021 - Consular Services Temporarily Restored
  68. Day 854 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 30, 2021 - Consular Support Cut
  69. Day 840 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - April 16, 2021 - Sanctions and Summits
  70. Day 824 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 31, 2021 - spring visitors to Paul Whelan
  71. Day 800 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - March 7, 2021 - Visit by Canadian Ambassador LeClaire
  72. Day 768 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - February 3, 2021 - State Dept Listens
  73. Day 761 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - January 26, 2021 - A New Hope
  74. Day 716 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - December 15, 2020 - 23 1/2 Months in Russian Detention
  75. Day 686 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 13, 2020 - Human Rights Visit
  76. Day 675 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - November 5, 2020 - Prison Inflicts Sleep Deprivation
  77. Day 650 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - October 8, 2020 - Hostage Diplomacy
  78. Day 636 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 24, 2020 - Ambassador Sullivan Visit
  79. Day 634 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 22, 2020 - US Ambassador Visits Camp IK-17
  80. Day 628 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - Sept 16, 2020 - Paul Whelan allegedly moved to Mordovia
  81. Day 612 - Paul Whelan - IK-17 Mordovia Russia - August 31, 2020 - Nowhere Man
  82. Day 559 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - July 3, 2020 - Some News, Some Waiting
  83. Day 545 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - June 25, 2020 - No Appeal
  84. Day 536 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - June 16, 2020 - What's Next
  85. Day 535 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - June 15, 2020 - Sentenced to 16 Years
  86. Day 531 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - June 11, 2020 - Last Update Before Trial Ends
  87. Day 518 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - May 29, 2020 - Emergency Surgery
  88. Day 515 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - May 26, 2020 - Trial Over, Sentencing on June 15
  89. Day 510 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - May 21, 2020 - Setup for a $1400 Debt
  90. Day 507 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - May 14, 2020 - The Trial Continues
  91. Day 500 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - May 7, 2020
  92. Day 488 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - April 29, 2020 - Prosecution Rests, Still No Evidence of Espionage
  93. Day 474 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - April 15, 2020 - Hearings, Virus Threat
  94. Day 461 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - April 2, 2020 - Denied PPE, Court Hearings Postponed
  95. Day 453 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - March 25, 2020 - Visit by Three Ambassadors
  96. Day 447 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - March 19, 2020 - Secret Trial Scheduled for March 23
  97. Day 432 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - March 4, 2020 - Turns 50 in Prison, Awaits Trial
  98. Day 419 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - February 22, 2020 - Trial Approaching
  99. Day 402 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - February 3, 2020 - Ambassador Sullivan's Visit, Appeal Hearing
  100. Day 398 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - January 30, 2020 - First Consular Visit in 2020
  101. Day 362 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Christmas Eve, 2019 -Detention Extended...Again
  102. Day 357 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - December 19, 2019 -Next Detention Hearing, Job Loss
  103. Day 355 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - December 17, 2019 -Collateral Damage
  104. Day 350 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - December 12, 2019 -Russian Corruption, American Defiance
  105. Day 344 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update December 6, 2019 - Prison Turkey, MFA Loses Facts
  106. Day 328 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update November 21, 2019 - Detention Continues
  107. Day 326 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update November 18, 2019 - No Medical, Misinformation
  108. Day 323 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update November 15, 2019 - Upcoming appeal hearing
  109. Day 300 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update October 24, 2019 - Detention until December 29
  110. Day 298 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update October 22, 2019 - House Resolution H.Res.552 passes
  111. Day 294 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update October 18, 2019 - David Urban lobbies for Paul
  112. Day 278 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update October 2 - Ambassador Huntsman's last visit
  113. Day 271 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update September 24 - detention appeal denied...again
  114. Day 261 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update September 17 - Paul tells media about set-up by FSB
  115. Day 259 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update September 13 - House/Senate resolutions introduced
  116. Day 238 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update August 28 - prison officials retaliating
  117. Day 217 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update August 1 - Foreign Minister Lavrov's wish list
  118. Day 200 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update July 1 - Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov's comments
  119. Day 182 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update June 28 - G20 summit
  120. Day 173 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update June 19 - Ambassador Bolton meeting
  121. Day 168 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update June 14 - FSB investigator angry at Paul
  122. Day 160 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update June 6 - FSB breaking Russian laws
  123. Day 151 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update May 28, 2019 - Detention extended another 3 months
  124. Day 145 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update May 22, 2019 - citizen unjustly held abroad
  125. Day 129 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update May 6, 2019 - attempts to coerce false confession
  126. Day 101 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update April 8, 2019 - no SPEHA for Paul
  127. Day 80 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update March 18, 2019 - call with DAS King
  128. Day 78 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update March 16, 2019 - Congress tweets
  129. Day 62 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Feb 28, 2019 - FSB isolates Paul
  130. Day 56 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Feb 22, 2019 - Extension of detention by 3 months
  131. Day 53 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Feb 19, 2019 - lawyer Zherebenkov meeting
  132. Day 40 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Feb 6, 2019 - still no Power of Attorney
  133. Day 29 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 25, 2019 - 5 consular visits
  134. Day 26 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 22, 2019 - Bail Hearing
  135. Day 25 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 21, 2019 - gofundme campaign started
  136. Day 21 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 17, 2019 - Pompeo speaks to Freeland
  137. Day 20 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 16, 2019 - Irish Embassy visits Paul
  138. Day 19 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 15, 2019 - still no Privacy Act Waiver
  139. Day 18 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 14, 2019 - lack of information from MFA
  140. Day 15 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 11, 2019 - Ambassador Huntsman calls family
  141. Day 12 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 8, 2019 - consular meeting requests
  142. Day 11 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 7, 2019 - family talks to embassies
  143. Day 08 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 4, 2019 - need Congress and State Dept help
  144. Day 05 - Paul Whelan - Lefortovo Prison Moscow - Update Jan 1, 2019 - our brother arrested by FSB