WASHINGTON — In a historic move, the United States and Russia have successfully executed their largest prisoner exchange since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The swap, which took place on Thursday, saw the release of American journalist Evan Gershkovich and compatriot Paul Whelan. The deal, which was brokered in Turkey, resulted in the liberation of approximately two dozen individuals, as confirmed by Turkish officials.
This monumental exchange comes after years of clandestine negotiations, despite the strained relationship between Washington and Moscow. The tension between the two nations has been at its peak since the Cold War, particularly following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The extensive deal is the most recent in a series of prisoner swaps between Russia and the U.S. over the past two years. However, this is the first to necessitate significant concessions from other nations. The release of American citizens has not been without cost, as Russia has managed to secure the release of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West. These individuals were exchanged for journalists, dissidents, and other Westerners who were convicted and sentenced under a highly politicized legal system on charges that the U.S. deems unfounded.
Stephen Capus, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, confirmed in an online statement that Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist working for the broadcaster, would also be released as part of the deal. Capus expressed gratitude to the American government and all those who worked relentlessly to end Kurmasheva’s unjust treatment by Russia. Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was convicted in July for disseminating false information about the Russian military, a charge her family and employer vehemently deny.
The deal marks the latest in a series of exchanges between Washington and Moscow over the past two years. Notable swaps include the December 2022 trade that saw WNBA star Brittney Griner return to the U.S. in exchange for infamous arms dealer Viktor Bout, and a swap earlier that year that exchanged Marine veteran Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
President Joe Biden has prioritized the release of wrongfully detained Americans abroad in his foreign policy agenda for the six months before his term ends. In his Oval Office address, Biden stated, “We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.”
Russia has shown a keen interest in repatriating Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 for the murder of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years prior, allegedly under orders from Moscow’s security services.
Speculation about an impending swap had been rife due to a series of unusual events, including a surprisingly swift trial and conviction for Gershkovich, which Washington deemed a farce. Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison.
In recent days, several individuals imprisoned in Russia for opposing the war in Ukraine or for their association with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were mysteriously moved from prison to undisclosed locations.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, while on a reporting assignment in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Russian authorities accused him of gathering classified information for the U.S. without providing any evidence. Gershkovich, the son of Soviet emigres who settled in New Jersey, moved to Russia in 2017 to work for The Moscow Times before joining the Journal in 2022.
Throughout his detention, Gershkovich had over a dozen closed hearings regarding the extension of his pretrial detention or appeals for his release. He was often seen smiling for the cameras as he was led to the courthouse in handcuffs and placed in the defendants’ cage.
Last year, U.S. officials proposed a swap involving Gershkovich, which was rejected by Russia. Since then, Biden’s administration has not disclosed any potential deals.
Gershkovich and Whelan were both designated as wrongfully detained. Whelan was arrested in December 2018 while attending a wedding in Russia. He was convicted on espionage charges, which both he and the U.S. government have dismissed as fabricated. Whelan is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence.
Whelan was notably excluded from previous high-profile deals involving Russia, including those involving Reed and Griner.
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