Family issues harrowing update on former Marine Paul Whelan as he rots in hellhole Russian prison

The family of Paul Whelan, the American former Marine currently being held in Russian prison, say he is 'disintegrating.'

During a News Nation interview, Whelan's brother, David Whelan described the bleak state his brother now finds himself in five years into his captivity.

'He's just disintegrating, and will continue to do so,' said David.

'His cognitive mental health is deteriorating. We're starting to get a sense of that in the phone calls. He's got physical problems. He's got a cracked tooth he can't get fixed.' 

Whelan has been in Russian custody since just after Christmas in 2018, when he was in Russia to attend the wedding of a former fellow US Marine.

David, who is Paul's twin, also said the current and former administrations have both failed to figure out how to deal with the nuances of his brother's case.

'I think they’re (U.S. government) making it a priority, (but) I think that they’ve failed so far, and will continue to fail to find a way to bring Paul home. 

'They still haven’t cracked the enigma for them about why Paul’s case is different,' he said.

He hopes the Biden administration will continue working on the issue, and hopes his brother will 'stay strong' in the meantime.

Last month, WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was held captive alongside Whelan in Russia for ten months but released in a prisoner swap arranged by the Biden administration, said she was surprised that Whelan did not make it home with her.

'When they closed the door (the plane she took home), I was like, "are you serious? You're not gonna let this man come home right now?"' she said during an interview with ABC.

In July of 2022, Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges after bringing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage through Sheremetyevo International Airport.

She was eventually freed in a 1-for-1 swap that was specifically criticized for its failure to return Whelan.

Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, whose is referred to internationally sometimes as the 'Merchant of Death.'

The deal drew criticism from Republicans, who were upset that the White House failed to get Whelan as well. In response to attacks from the right, White House officials acknowledged prisoner swaps are costly, adding that they felt compelled to bring Griner home while they had the chance.

In her GMA interview, Griner spoke with Robin Roberts about the awareness she is trying to raise surrounding other Americans detained overseas, including Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in in 2023 also for alleged espionage charges.

In 2022, David Whelan said he worries his brother will never made it home.

'I think we all realize that the math is not going to work out for Paul to come home anytime soon, unless the U.S. government is able to find concessions,' David Whelan said. 'And so I think we aren't really sure what the way forward is.'