MOSCOW – The international links to an American charged with espionage in Russia widened Friday as Ireland became the fourth nation to acknowledge Paul Whelan as a citizen and seek consular access. Whelan also carried passports from Canada — he was born in Ottawa — as well as from Britain and Ireland. British authorities have blamed Russia for carrying out the attack — an assertion Moscow denies. David, who lives in Toronto, said only U.S. embassy officials in Russia have been able to communicate with his brother. David said he and his brother were born in Ottawa but that Paul hasn’t lived in Canada since the early 1970s when the family emigrated to the U.S.

Source: National Post January 04, 2019 19:18 UTC