"Alexey [the FSB investigator] is very angry after Paul 's statement in the court," said Paul's defense lawyer in an email yesterday morning. One of the investigator's immediate reactions was to prohibit Paul's lawyers from taking any messages from his family to him during an interrogation that was scheduled on Thursday [6/13/2019]. Fortunately, the U.S. Embassy visited Paul last week and visited him again yesterday [6/13/2019]. This gives our family some comfort that any retaliation by the investigator will not go unnoticed.
The defense team has also filed another appeal against extending Paul's wrongful imprisonment. The hearing will be held on Thursday, June 20. Paul will have been in Russian prison for 175 days.
Although some Russian media initially appeared to report the appeal as challenging the legality of Paul's arrest ["Moscow City Court to check legality of Paul Whelan's arrest on June 20"], his lawyers confirmed that it is a procedural appeal against detention. The appeal is a reprise of the appeal process his defense counsel attempted in January. We expect a similar result, which forces Paul to remain in Russia and behind bars for another 3 months.
Although some Russian media initially appeared to report the appeal as challenging the legality of Paul's arrest ["Moscow City Court to check legality of Paul Whelan's arrest on June 20"], his lawyers confirmed that it is a procedural appeal against detention. The appeal is a reprise of the appeal process his defense counsel attempted in January. We expect a similar result, which forces Paul to remain in Russia and behind bars for another 3 months.