OREANDA-NEWS. US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan on Monday after starting the Moscow City Court hearing of espionage cases against Paul Whelan expressed hope that the process would be open and fair.

"Today, the trial began the trial, and we had the opportunity to talk with Paul. In the future, we hope to see a transparent and fair trial", Sullivan said after the preliminary hearing on the case.

He noted that he considered Whelan’s 13-month detention unreasonable due to the lack of evidence of his guilt. "Whelan is denied proper medical care and is not allowed to contact his family. He is being held in difficult conditions", Sullivan added. The ambassadors of Great Britain and Ireland also visited the Moscow City Court on Monday, but didn't comment on the press.

Whelan, who, in addition to US citizenship, has British citizenship, as well as Canadian and Irish citizenship, was detained by the FSS of Russia in Moscow on December 28, 2018 during an espionage campaign. Whelan denies guilt. His defense insists that the case was fabricated, and Whelan's activities in Russia were purely humanitarian in nature.