Paul Whelan, held in Russia on spy charges, gets call from Antony Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone Wednesday with former Marine Paul Whelan, currently held in Russia on espionage charges, a source familiar with the matter told The Post.

It is the second known chat between America’s top diplomat and the 53-year-old Whelan, who has been held by Moscow since 2018 and is currently in a prison camp in the Republic of Mordovia, with limited links to the outside world.

During the call, Blinken told Whelan to “keep the faith” and promised “we’re doing everything we can to bring you home as soon as possible,” a source told CNN, which first reported the conversation.

The Biden administration has aggressively negotiated for Whelan’s release, but so far the Kremlin does not appear to have seriously entertained any offers.

Whelan is serving a 16-year prison sentence following his December 2018 arrest in Moscow, where he had traveled to attend a wedding.

Both Whelan and top US officials deny the allegations that he was a spy for Washington.

Paul Whelan blasted the court proceeding against him in Russia as a “sham trial.”AFP via Getty Images

Whelan previously expressed optimism that US officials are prioritizing his case, but had also expressed frustration over the lack of progress.

Alongside Whelan, US officials are also seeking to secure the release of wrongfully imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained since March.

“I have been told that I won’t be left behind, and I have been told that although Evan’s case is a priority, mine is also a priority, and people are cognizant of the fact that this is having an extremely negative impact on me and my family,” Whelan told CNN back in May.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that Paul Whelan has not been forgotten.AP

“And I’m told that the government is working tirelessly to get me out of here and to get me home so they can then focus effort on Evan and his case,” he added.

In December, the Biden administration secured the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in February 2022 on drug charges after medically prescribed cannabis oil was found in her luggage.

Griner was released in exchange for the return to Russia of notorious international arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death.” Bout is now seeking political office in his home country.

Brittney Griner was apprehended by Russian officials last year for possession of drugs. Russian Federal Customs Service

During those negotiations, the administration fought to secure Whelan’s freedom along with Griner, but said Moscow was uninterested.

“It was either Brittney or no one at all and we’re not going to apologize for that,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the time.

American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who was arrested in 2021 for illegal possession of marijuana and later hit with a 14-year prison sentence, was also left out of the deal.

Evan Gershkovich’s arrest sparked widespread outrage against Russia in the US.AP

Gershkovich was arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service at a restaurant in the city of Yekanterinburg, about 800 miles east of Moscow.

He is the first American journalist arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the conclusion of the Cold War. 

Both the US government and the Wall Street Journal have strongly denied the Kremlin’s accusations.

Top US officials have had contact with Gershkovich since his arrest and a Kremlin spokesperson previously hinted that there have been discussions about a prisoner swap.