Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, is hospitalized

The Biden administration is "deeply concerned" about Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia who was transferred to a prison hospital, a White House spokesman said Wednesday.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Mr. Whelan's brother David said in emails to supporters this week that his brother was moved Nov. 17 to a hospital from the jail where he is being held.

His family, who have not heard from him for a week, were particularly alarmed when Mr Whelan missed a scheduled call home on Thanksgiving Day and even more so when he did not called home on Wednesday, his father's 85th birthday.

"Paul was not complaining of any medical condition requiring hospitalization, were there So he had an emergency? David Whelan wrote. He added that his brother "appeared healthy and healthy" to US Embassy staff who visited him earlier this month.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters in a telephone briefing on Wednesday that the US government tried unsuccessfully to obtain information about Mr. Whelan's condition and his whereabouts and whereabouts. come. not have a specific update on where he is or what condition he is in,” Kirby said. He added, "We are deeply concerned about Paul's lack of information and lack of contact, and we are really working on it as hard as possible through diplomatic channels."

Speaking on MSNBC during a visit to Bucharest, Romania, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said US officials visited Mr Whelan on November 16 and spoke to him by phone at "about" the same time, but have had no contact with him since. "We are working every day to make sure we have contact with him, that we understand what the exact situation is," Blinken said.

David Whelan said in an email on Wednesday, "It could be nothing but, in that case, you should always consider the worst case scenarios."

Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who later worked as a corporate security manager, was arrested at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 and convicted in June 2020 on espionage charges that the U.S. government says were fabricated.

U.S. Officials have linked Mr Whelan's fate with that of jailed professional basketball player Brittney Griner and have been trying for months to negotiate their joint release. The United States has offered to release a notorious Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, from federal prison in exchange for the two Americans. Russia has not yet accepted the offer.

In a Nov. 9 statement, the White House said it "continued to follow up on this offers and offers other potential ways to communicate with the Russians through all available channels,” but did not give further details.

Mr Whelan is being held in a high-security prison called IK-17, about an eight-hour drive from Moscow.