; Whereas, following Paul Whelan’s conviction on June 15, 2020, the Department of State released a statement demanding his immediate release, and this statement continues to be ignored by the Government of the Russian Federation; Whereas, on April 12, 2022, United States resident Vladimir Kara-Murza was arrested for condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine and was charged with spreading deliberately false information about the Armed Forces of Russia, which was criminalized under a Russian law passed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine; Whereas, on April 17, 2023, Vladimir Kara-Murza was convicted of treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison; Whereas additional United States citizens continue to be detained in Russia for unjust cause, including American journalist Evan Gershkovich; Whereas wrongful detention, as defined in section 302 of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act ( 22 U.S.C. 1741 ) and Department of State guidance, covers the detention of United States nationals, including lawful permanent residents (LPRs); Whereas, under section 302 of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act ( 22 U.S.C. 1741 ), the Secretary of State is required to review the cases of United States nationals detained abroad to determine if there is credible information that they are being detained unlawfully or wrongfully and if this determination is made, the Secretary is required to transfer responsibility for such case from the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA)