NPR

Russia Grants U.S. Access To Paul Whelan, Arrested On Suspicion Of Spying

Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, says it arrested Whelan last week. Family members say he was visiting Moscow to attend a wedding, not to steal secrets.
Russia has granted U.S. consular officials access to Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen detained in Russia on suspicion of spying. Whelan appears here in a photo provided by the Whelan family.

Russia is allowing U.S. consular officials to speak to Paul Whelan, the U.S. citizen who was arrested last week by Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, on suspicion of spying. But family members say Whelan was visiting Moscow to attend a wedding, not to steal secrets.

The U.S. requested consular access to Whelan on Monday after learning of his arrest, the State Department told NPR earlier this week.

"We've made clear to the Russians our expectation that we

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