Russia has released a former US Navy sailor who had been detained since last April, former US diplomat Bill Richardson, who specializes in delicate missions to secure the release of his compatriots, announced on Thursday.
"
Taylor Dudley was released from Russia today January 12, 2023
" at a border post between Poland and Russia and is "
on the way back
", said in a press release this former elected official and ambassador.
Negotiations for the release of the ex-sailor were done "
discreetly
", he said.
Other soldiers still detained
"
As we celebrate Taylor's safe return, we remain very concerned about the fate of Paul Whelan and committed to working towards his return
," added Bill Richardson.
Former US serviceman Paul Whelan was arrested in Russia in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for "
espionage
", despite his denials.
The United States has been striving to secure his release ever since, with President Joe Biden promising in December to "
never
" abandon efforts to do so when American basketball star Brittney Griner returned from a US trade. United States with Russia against the notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout.
"
Alas, Moscow is treating Paul Whelan's case differently than Brittney's, and even though we failed to secure Paul's release, we will never give up
," Biden said.