Russian court extends detention of ex-U.S. marine Whelan to end-Dec- Ifax

A Moscow court ordered former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remain in jail until Dec. 29 on espionage charges, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.

Paul Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Canadian and Irish passports, was detained in December and accused of spying. Moscow says he was caught red-handed but he denies the allegations and says he was set up in a politically motivated sting.