The U-S government says both Americans are being wrongfully detained.
But Russia’s held Whelan for more than four years now.
David Whelan says his brother told their parents in a phone call from prison over the weekend that he feels abandoned.
“The arrest of another American charged with the same charge that he has gone through…and seeing other Americans being released by Russia over the past year has really made it harder for him to survive. I’m really starting to worry about his mental state.”
Whelan’s sister Elizabeth says she’ll pause any future meetings with the State Department or White House until they can offer something of substance regarding her brother’s potential release.