22 Jan 2019 11:12

U.S., UK, Canadian diplomats come to Moscow City Court for Whelan arrest complaint hearing

MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Representatives of the U.S., UK, and Canadian diplomatic missions have arrived at the Moscow City Court, which is preparing to review a complaint contesting the arrest of Paul Whelan, who has been charged with espionage.

The head of the American Citizen Services unit at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Richard Hanrahan, who monitors the observance of U.S. citizens' rights in Russia, told Interfax that he has no expectations, but he is interested in monitoring these procedures.

He declined to comment further.

According to lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov, Canada's consul general and a consular officer of the British embassy to Russia will attend the court session along with Hanrahan.