From left: David Whelan and Paul Whelan.Photo: GMA/Twitter; KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty
In an interview withGood Morning America’sRobin RobertsThursday morning, Paul’s twin brother David Whelan spoke about the family’s reaction to news that the Biden administration had offered a “substantial” deal to Russia to secure the release of their relative and the WNBA star.
“The offer that the U.S. government has made and, extraordinarily, made public, is super,“said David, Thursday. “Hopefully, the Russian government will take the concessions that have been made and allow Paul to come home.”
David added that while his family is in regular contact with the State Department and National Security Council, they hadn’t expected Wednesday’s announcement.
A representative from the White House confirmed to PEOPLE Wednesday that the Biden administration had “made a substantial proposal to bring Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan home weeks ago.”
David Whelan.GMA/Twitter
David said the attention from Griner’s case had “absolutely” been helpful in shining a light on his brother’s detainment too.
“Ms. Griner, her supporters, her advocacy on her own behalf, her supporters' advocacy, has been very gracious in including Paul’s case and calling for both Ms. Griner and Paul’s freedom,” he told GMA Thursday. “It’s been a huge help for someone like Paul who doesn’t have the same celebrity.”
While he admitted that he had not personally spoken to his twin since October 2018, his parents continued to speak to him “on a pretty regular basis,” he added.
“We know that he is not being given proper nutrition because that’s the normal diet in a Russian prison,” he told GMA, adding that he believed Paul’s “kindness” is what got him “into trouble.”
Brittney Griner.Christian Petersen/Getty
According toCNN, Paul has been held in Russia since 2018 for alleged espionage.
News of hisarrest brokeon New Year’s Eve 2018 when Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB)announcedthat it had detained the Michigan resident during a “spy mission”. However, a U.S. government security source told PEOPLE at the time that Paul is not a secret agent for the United States.
Citing sources,CNNalso reported Wednesday that the White House offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for a Russian prisoner in the United States, Viktor Bout, who was convicted for arms trafficking and is currently serving 25 years.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the White House has been in negotiations with Russia on the potential exchange for weeks, and that he intends to discuss the matter further on a call with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The announcement was the first time a White House official has confirmed negotiations to bring Griner home from Russia, since she was detained on Feb. 17.
“This is hopeful news for both of our fellow Americans, but I feel a need to temper any optimism with caution given the many unpredictable variables of these negotiations,” sports journalist Tamryn Spruill, who startedtheChange.orgpetition to bring Brittney home, said in a statement Thursday.“For me, it has always been about bringing both BG (Brittney Griner) and Whelan home,” she added “I remember learning of his detention, and it has always weighed on me.
“I always hoped that our government would strive to get both BG and Whelan back to their families,” she continued. “I am proud that the Biden Administration made a deal for both of them. It was the right thing to do.”
source: people.com
