Prisoner swap with Russia frees Americans including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan

In a significant prisoner swap between the United States, its allies, and Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were among over a dozen prisoners released. The deal involved 16 political prisoners, journalists, and others, including five Germans, exchanged for eight Russians held in the U.S., Germany, Norway, Slovenia, and Poland. Among the Russians released was Vadim Krasikov, a convicted state assassin.

President Biden praised the swap as a diplomatic success, highlighting the importance of international alliances. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan noted that the exchange was the result of prolonged, complex negotiations. Besides Gershkovich and Whelan, other Americans freed included Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The Turkish government, which played a key role through its intelligence service, described the operation as one of the most extensive recent prisoner exchanges. Gershkovich, arrested in Moscow in March 2023 and sentenced to 16 years for alleged espionage, and Whelan, detained in December 2018 and also sentenced to 16 years, were both considered wrongfully detained by the U.S.

Source: NPR