(Media News) Major Multinational Prisoner Exchange Secures Release of Evan Gershkovich and Three Other U.S. Residents

On Thursday, four U.S. residents, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan, were released as part of a major multinational prisoner exchange, the largest such deal since the Cold War. The complex arrangement, involving seven nations and 24 individuals, marks a significant diplomatic achievement amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia.

Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested in March 2023 while reporting in Yekaterinburg, Russia. In a widely condemned trial, he was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison. His publication vociferously advocated for his release. Paul Whelan, detained in 2018 on similar charges, was also serving a 16-year sentence. Both were flown to Turkey before heading home.

President Joe Biden gathered with the families of the released individuals, including Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., who was jailed for treason in April 2023. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the exchange as “historic,” highlighting its unprecedented scale and the collaboration among numerous countries.

The deal involved five Germans and seven Russian citizens held in Russia and eight Russians imprisoned in the U.S., Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Poland. Notably, Vadim Krasikov, a Russian imprisoned in Germany for a state-sanctioned assassination, was among those released.

This exchange follows the high-profile swap in December 2022, when WNBA star Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Critics of such exchanges argue they may encourage foreign adversaries to use detained Americans as bargaining chips.

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