Paul Whelan: Ex-US marine alleges abuse in Russia spy case Published duration 24 May 2019

media caption Speaking in court, Paul Whelan alleges abuse by Russian authorities

A former US marine imprisoned in Russia on suspicion of spying has complained of "abuses and harassment" and says he is a "victim of political kidnap".

Mr Whelan - a citizen of the US, UK, Canada and Ireland - was arrested in late December, accused of espionage.

The 48-year-old denies the charges and told a court on Friday that he had been subjected to threats and abuse by a security service investigator.

The comments came as his pre-trial custody was extended until 29 August.

Mr Whelan told the court that there was "absolutely no legitimacy" to the case against him, describing it as retaliation for US sanctions.

If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

He said he had not showered in two weeks, was unable to access medical or dental treatment and had been denied access to books and letters sent to him months ago.

"I've been threatened. My personal safety has been threatened. There are abuses and harassment that I am constantly subjected to," he said.

The court hearing on Friday was held behind closed doors but visitors were permitted to attend the opening and the reading of the ruling.

An official at the US embassy in Moscow said Washington was extremely concerned by Mr Whelan's claims.

The comments marked a shift in tone from previous statements by the former marine, who told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in February that he was "holding up well" after two months in custody but could not talk publicly about the charge against him for fear of making his situation worse.

media caption Paul Whelan, accused of spying in Russia, spoke to the BBC's Sarah Rainsford while in a Moscow courtroom

In the courtroom

Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, Moscow

Paul Whelan is angry and he's no longer hiding it. Standing inside a metal cage in court the former US marine declared that his detention in Moscow and the charge of espionage was a political kidnap, with nothing legitimate about it.

Moments later he told the judge he wanted to complain about his interrogator from Russia's FSB security service, saying "his actions, abuse, harassment and the threats on my life are unprofessional and should not be tolerated". The judge ignored him.

These are by far the strongest comments Mr Whelan has ever made in his case. He's been held now for five months in an FSB prison, accused of receiving Russian state secrets on a flash drive from a friend. He denies the charge, saying he thought the drive contained photographs from a tourist trip.

Earlier he had said he wanted to make a statement to Donald Trump and to the US Congress, but his masked FSB guards told him he was forbidden to speak.

The US ambassador in Moscow has said no evidence has been presented in this case in five months and called on Russia to 'quit playing games'

The hearing itself is closed - as an espionage case - and labelled top secret.

Why was he arrested?

Mr Whelan arrived in Russia on 22 December to attend a wedding and had planned to visit St Petersburg in addition to Moscow before flying home on 6 January, his brother told the BBC.

Russia's FSB state security agency said he was detained "during an act of espionage".

Mr Whelan's Russian lawyer has said the arrest was made after he was unwittingly handed a memory stick containing state secrets.

media caption David Whelan comments on his brother's arrest by Russian authorities

Who is he?

Mr Whelan was born in Canada to British parents but moved to the US as a child. He is currently director of global security for Michigan-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner.

His brother has said Mr Whelan had been visiting Russia for business and pleasure since 2007.

Mr Whelan joined the Marine Reserves in 1994 and rose to the rank of staff sergeant in 2004. He served in Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006.

He was convicted in a 2008 court martial on charges related to larceny and received a bad-conduct discharge. Details of the charges are not public.