The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced U.S. citizen Paul Whelan to 16 years in jail after finding him guilty of spying in Russia, local media reported.
The prosecution had asked the court to imprison Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, for 18 years, just short of the 20 years maximum term for the charge.
At the court, Whelan announced his intention to appeal the verdict and claimed that he was framed.
Paul Whelan, who was detained and accused of espionage, stands inside a defendants' cage during his verdict hearing in Moscow, Russia, June 15, 2020. /Reuters
Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told reporters that after the appeal they will decide whether to request a pardon or an exchange for Russian nationals Konstantin Yaroshenko or Viktor Bout jailed in the United States.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday that Moscow has repeatedly offered options for prisoner swaps to Washington and its position now remains unchanged.
Whelan, 50, was detained in Moscow by the Russian Federal Security Service on suspicion of espionage on December 28, 2018, although his family said he traveled to Moscow only to attend a friend's wedding.
Before his detention, Whelan was head of the security service of a U.S. firm producing automobile parts. He also has British, Irish and Canadian citizenship.