Former US marine Paul Whelan: pawn in US-Russia standoff

Paul Whelan, an ex-Marine, was freed by Russia in a major prisoner swap. Arrested in 2018 for allegedly possessing classified documents, Whelan was sentenced to 16 years. His imprisonment heightened US-Russia tensions. Though previously bypassed in swap deals, including for Brittney Griner, Whelan's release marks a turning point in strained diplomatic relations.