LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In email updates from David Whelan about his twin brother Paul, who is wrongfully detained in a Russian prison after being convicted for spying, he refers to him as a “hostage” and includes in his message to the media how many days Paul has been a hostage of Russia. Today is day number 1,762.

In the latest emails updating us on Paul Whelan’s conditions in prison, David discusses politics, food, and a Run/Walk event to spotlight the plight of hostages all over the world.

MORE NEWS: Michigan’s Largest Teachers’ Union Slowly Growing Again After 30% Drop Since Right-to-work

David discussed Senate Resolution 156 calling for Paul’s release which was approved by the Senate on October 3rd after being delayed. David said, “There seems to be continued unevenness even in Congress for the support of fellow Americans who are taken hostage, let alone as displayed in the op-eds of large U.S. media platforms. We were grateful to the State Department’s SPEHA office for calling it out.” This was done in a Washington Post editorial by Joshua A. Geltzer who is deputy assistant to the president and deputy Homeland Security adviser for the National Security Council.

David added, “Our family is grateful to the Michigan Congressional delegation for repeatedly bringing these resolutions to the floors of the House and Senate. Our thanks go to Senator Peters, who introduced this third Senate Resolution and sixth Resolution overall, and to Senators Stabenow (MI) and Cornyn (TX) for co-sponsoring.”

When discussing what his brother is going through, David said, “Paul’s prison conditions go from worse to worst. He told our parents that part of a three-story barracks at the prison had collapsed, so prisoners are being re-situated into other barracks. Not a great time for increasing crowd density, with winter coming on and flu and COVID season returning. Water has become a primary part of their diet.  Every meal is watered down, with the noon soup now showing by its color that a vegetable was cooked in the broth but was taken out before the broth is served.  Perhaps they reuse it the next day.”

David also discussed the “2023 Foley Freedom Run” which is named after James W. Foley, an American journalist and video reporter, who died in captivity in Syria in August 2014. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which organizes the walks, publicly advocates for the freedom of all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.

David said his brother Paul showed his “continued resilience” by participating in the worldwide 2023 James W. Foley Freedom Run. David also said, “We let Paul know that we would once again be fielding a team in his name, and he coordinated his own effort.”

Davis said of Paul’s participation, “Paul was able to walk a mile within the confines of both the IK-17 labor camp and the prison’s regulations to show he remains unbeaten.”

MORE NEWS: Long Overdue: Michigan Library Book from the Nixon Era Finally Returned

In Michigan, on October 14th, David said that his family participated in the walk from their own locations where they live. David walked in San Diego and his parents, Rosemary and Ed Whelan, walked in Manchester, Michigan. Rosemary told the Manchester Mirror that this was her ninth walk and she parents walked about two miles with her husband and close friends, cheered on by individuals and store owners along with way who put up signs in their shop windows that that the team was carrying during their walk.

David said about the walk, “It means a lot to a family and supporters to be able to *do something* when it seems that there is nothing to be done. I expect Paul would agree.” He added, “When someone is taken hostage, a family learns the limits to what they can do to bring their family member home and out of harm’s way. We remain grateful to organizations like the Foley Foundation and Hostage US, both of whom support and advocate for families like ours, and our loved ones.”

The word “hostage” has taken on an even more urgent meaning lately with the attack on Israel by Hamas. Israel says that the Hamas terrorists have kidnapped more than 220 people and Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there are ten Americans who remain unaccounted.

Thankfully, four hostages have been released including two Americans who were released last week after Qatari officials brokered an agreement with Hamas. Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie Raanan, 17, who have dual Israeli-American citizenship live in Evanston, Illinois. However, their joy is stained with worry and grief because eight of their family members are still being held hostage and three others were killed.