American citizen and former United States Marine Paul Whelan (pictured) was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges by a Russian court, the US ambassador in Russia John Sullivan said on Monday.
Sullivan stated that the verdict was a "mockery of justice" and expressed his concern that it will harm relations between Russia and the US. Before the trial, the US embassy took to Twitter to write: "Fair and transparent? No. Evidence produced? No. The world is watching."
Whelan was apprehended by Russian authorities in December 2018 in Moscow for partaking in "spy activity." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also addressed the problem at the end of May when he asked for Whelan’s release as Russia failed to provide the American with the necessary medical treatment.