Imprisoned American Paul Whelan Feels 'Abandoned' by US in Russia

Whelan, serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, reports harsh prison conditions and fears being left out of future prisoner swaps.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine, has been imprisoned in Russia for five years on espionage charges, which he and the US government deny.
Whelan has expressed feelings of abandonment by the US government, as he has been left out of recent prisoner swaps between the US and Russia.
Whelan is currently serving a 16-year sentence in a remote prison camp in Mordovia, Russia, where he reports harsh living conditions including black mold on the walls and no heating.
Whelan was assaulted by another inmate last month, and he claims he is being targeted by a prison official, who is allegedly instigating fights with him for disciplinary purposes.
Despite Russia's President Vladimir Putin expressing hope for an agreement on Whelan's release, the US State Department reports that Russia has rejected multiple 'significant proposals' for his release.