Paul Whelan, wrongfully detained in Russia, says he thinks "the wheels are turning" toward release

Washington — Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen who is wrongfully detained in Russia, is worried he could be left behind again, but said he's confident "the wheels are turning" toward his release. 

"I remain positive and confident on a daily basis that the wheels are turning. I just wish they would turn a little bit more quickly," Whelan told CNN in a phone interview on Sunday. 

Whelan is imprisoned in Mordovia and serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, which the U.S. denies. He's been detained in Russia since December 2018 and has watched as the U.S. made two prisoner swaps for the release of professional basketball star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who were both wrongfully detained in Russia after Whelan's arrest.