Russia releases Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan in major prisoner swap with the US
Espionage charges denied by both countries
In a significant diplomatic move, Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan on Thursday, August 1, as part of a prisoner swap with the United States.
According to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation, the two men, who were imprisoned on espionage charges that both they and the US deny, are currently en route to Ankara, Turkey.
Details of the prisoner exchange
The agreement involves the US and its allies returning prisoners held by them to Russia. In addition to Gershkovich and Whelan, the Kremlin is also releasing dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza as part of the swap, a European official told Bloomberg. Kara-Murza, an activist with dual Russian-British citizenship, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in April last year on charges of treason after campaigning against President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Months of negotiations
Washington and other Western capitals have been engaged in prolonged negotiations with Moscow for the release of Gershkovich and Whelan, both of whom have been designated as wrongly detained by the US State Department.
This high-stakes exchange marks a rare moment of cooperation amidst strained US-Russia relations, underscoring the ongoing complexities of international diplomacy and the efforts to bring detained nationals back home.