Ex-U.S. Marine's espionage trial begins in Russia under virus lockdown
MOSCOW — A Moscow court began hearing the espionage case against former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on Monday. The trial opened about two weeks later than originally planned due to strict coronavirus lockdown measures in place in the Russian capital.
Whelan's defense team requested a further postponement of the trial Monday, until the lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the disease is lifted, but the court ruled to reconvene in one week.
Olga Karlova, one of Whelan's defense attorneys, told CBS News that during the first hearing the prosecution formally presented its charges, and Whelan pleaded not guilty.
"Paul said that he believes he was framed and that [the case] was a provocation against him," Karlova said, adding that her client appeared to be in good spirits.
Whelan, 50, was arrested at a central Moscow hotel in December 2018. Russian investigators claim he was caught red-handed after receiving a USB drive containing classified information. Whelan's family says he came to Russia to attend a friend's wedding and believed the USB drive handed to him by an acquaintance contained vacation photos.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ex-us-marines-espionage-trial-begins-in-russia-under-virus-lockdown/ar-BB12yEHw?li=BBnb7Kz