While his brother, Tamerlan, was being buried in secret, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was recovering from his wounds in a Massachusetts prison hospital. Now, the accused Boston Marathon bomber is well enough to walk and speak with his family on the phone.

According to an Associated Press report, Dzhokhar this week spoke with his parents in Russia, telling them that he and his brother are innocent. His mother told the AP that Dzhokhar told her he is recovering with the help of doctors, and that he also oddly questioned what was happening to him, and why.

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva and Anzor Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar’s parents, also reportedly believe that their sons are innocent. They have stated their belief that Dzhokhar and Tamerlan were framed.

Dzhokar was injured on the night of April 18 in the same shootout in which his brother was shot and killed by police. Dzhokar managed to escape, leading Boston police and the FBI on a city-wide manhunt that shut down the city of Boston. He was found one day later, hiding in a boat parked in a backyard near the site of the shootout. His neck and thigh had been wounded in the firefight, and he was badly injured. Though initial reports indicated that he may never speak again, his recent phone conversation shows that his voice has been saved.