Russia rejects ex-U.S. Marine's appeal for freedom in espionage case
The prisoner was also denied real-time translation of Tuesday's court proceedings. With the audio on his feed switched on later, he could be heard saying, "I have no idea what is happening." The court said he would receive a full translation later.
Whelan's defense team said they were planning to appeal again against his ongoing detention.
Independent Russian newspaper Kommersant published what it said were leaked details of the charges against the American over the weekend. The paper said he had been on the Federal Security Service's (FSB) radar since 2007, when he visited the country for the first time while still serving in the Marines.
The report, citing anonymous sources, said the U.S. resident drew the spy agency's attention because he tried to contact former and serving members of the Russian military and the FSB. Russian officials have said he received the USB drive from a serving FSB employee, and that it contained a classified staff list for one of the agency's departments.
"We think it was a provocation by his acquaintance," defense lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov said on Tuesday. "None of the witnesses questioned have testified that Paul tried to recruit him."
Whelan's family insists he came to Russia to attend a friend's wedding, and that he believed the USB drive handed to him by an acquaintance contained vacation photos.
Whelan, a Michigan resident who also holds British, Canadian and Irish citizenship, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage.
Analysts have suggested Russia could try to use Whelan as a bargaining chip in negotiating a prisoner swap for Russian nationals detained abroad. His lawyer on Tuesday appeared to call for such negotiations to begin promptly.
"Paul is a citizen of four countries. None of them has asked to organize his exchange yet. Take the initiative, gentlemen!" said Zherebenkov.
Hearings in Whelan's case are not expected to begin until at least March.
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