ANKARA: US reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan were among 26 prisoners released on Thursday in Ankara in a prisoner swap between Russia and six Western countries, Turkey announced.
In a historic prisoner exchange, Russia has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, marking one of the largest East-West prisoner swaps since the Cold War, Turkey’s government said.
Ten Russians, including two minors, were handed over in return for 16 Westerners detained by Russia, said a statement released by the Turkish presidency, which hailed a “historic prisoner exchange operation” organised by its MIT national intelligence service.
The exchange, facilitated by Turkey’s MIT intelligence service, includes prisoners from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Belarus, and Russia.
The Turkish presidency stated that the swap involved high-profile prisoners and was facilitated through complex negotiations. The Kremlin has yet to confirm the exchange, and US officials have not immediately verified the details. However, the news has been widely reported by US media outlets.
Evan Gershkovich, 32, was detained in Russia in March 2023 and subsequently convicted of espionage in a trial widely criticized by the US as a sham. The US government, along with Gershkovich’s employer, denied the charges, asserting that the reporter was targeted unjustly.
Paul Whelan, 54, a former US Marine, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on similar charges of espionage, which he has always maintained were fabricated. Whelan was working in security for a US vehicle parts company when he was arrested.
The swap also involves Vadim Krasikov, a Russian citizen convicted in Germany for the murder of a former Chechen rebel commander, highlighting the high stakes and complexity of the negotiations.
The prisoner exchange represents a significant diplomatic win for President Joe Biden, whose administration has been actively working to secure the release of American detainees in Russia. It is the largest such swap since the December 2022 exchange involving US basketball player Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
This recent exchange also recalls the landmark 2010 swap involving 14 alleged spies, including the high-profile cases of Sergei Skripal and Anna Chapman. Historically, major swaps have been rare and typically occurred during the Cold War, with notable exchanges in 1985 and 1986.
According to reports, an aircraft previously used in the Griner-Bout exchange was seen flying from Moscow to Kaliningrad, fueling speculation about the ongoing negotiations.
Gershkovich’s release has been hailed as a relief by media rights organizations. Reporters Without Borders expressed their satisfaction, condemning the practice of state hostage-taking and reaffirming that journalists should never be targeted for political reasons.
The case also highlights broader geopolitical tensions and the increasing frequency of arrests of US citizens in Russia, seen by Washington as a tactic to leverage the release of Russians detained abroad.
Other notable figures in the exchange include Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist and activist who has been imprisoned in Siberia. Kara-Murza, who faces severe health issues, was reportedly moved to a prison hospital earlier this month.
