Paul Whelan, a Novi resident accused of spying in Russia, was found in possession of classified material when he was arrested in Moscow, his state-appointed lawyer said. Whelan, 48, was arrested in Moscow on December 28 on suspicion of carrying out an act of espionage, Russia’s Federal Security Service has said. He was found with “evidence that constitutes state secrets” when he was detained, his lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov said before a pretrial hearing in Moscow Tuesday. Before his arrest, Whelan had been given a thumb drive which he believed contained vacation photographs, Zherebenkov said. Whelan did not inspect the the flash drive before his detention and was not aware it contained classified information, the lawyer said. Whelan “does not admit guilt,” he said. Zherebenkov said Whelan’s defense team has only been provided about 5% of the contents of the thumb drive. At the pretrial hearing Tuesday, Whelan’s bail was denied. He will remain in Lefortovo detention center in Moscow until at least February 28.
