Russia, U.S. Complete 24-Person Swap Including Journalist Gershkovich
On Thursday, the United States and Russia completed their largest post-Soviet prisoner swap, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich, American Paul Whelan, and dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza.
This exchange freed 24 individuals in a multinational deal after years of secret negotiations, despite strained U.S.-Russia relations since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden hailed the deal as a diplomatic success. However, the U.S. secured the release of its nationals by conceding to release Russians convicted of serious crimes in the West. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was jailed in 2023 on espionage charges. Whelan, a corporate security executive, was detained in 2018 on similar charges. Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen and journalist, was also released.
The dissidents freed included Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Kremlin critic serving 25 years for treason, and 11 political prisoners associated with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. A German national held in Belarus was also released.
Russia received Vadim Krasikov, convicted of murder in Germany, along with alleged sleeper agents jailed in Slovenia, and three men charged in the U.S., including convicted hacker Roman Seleznev. Norway and Poland also returned suspected Russian operatives.
This swap surpasses the 2010 exchange involving 14 people. Recent developments, including Gershkovich’s swift trial, signaled the imminent swap. Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 during a reporting trip, accused of espionage without evidence.
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