Overview

• Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, was assaulted by a fellow prisoner at his remote labor camp in Mordovia.
• Whelan was working in a factory at the camp when the other prisoner struck him in the face and then tried to strike him again.
• Whelan reported the incident to the deputy warden and is seeking to press charges for the assault.
• The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over the incident and called on Russia to ensure Whelan's safety.
• Whelan has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department and has been imprisoned in Russia for almost five years.