Russia frees Wall Street Journal reporter in historic prisoner swap

2024-08-01 18:33:00

The American designer Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovichfound guilty and imprisoned Russia In 2023, it was already released with a small boat Paul Whelan and more than twenty people took as part of us large scale prisoner exchangewho has the cooperation of Turkey.

For several days there has been speculation about the nearness of a deal. Finally this Thursday CNN and other networks in the United States broke the news, when ABC news confirmed that the exchange also included Whelan, the head of corporate security from Michigan, who was arrested by the Kremlin in 2018 and accused of “spying”.

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The authorities do not like this

Professional and critical journalism is a cornerstone of democracy. This is the reason why he is happy with those who believe that they are the owners of the truth.

A total of 26 prisoners of the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Belarus and Russia benefited from the exchange “made” by the Turkish Institute of Technology (MIT), the Government of the Turkish President reported. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In that sense, they explained that the work was done in Ankara and had the participation of seven planes that intervened in the transportation of prisoners. By writing, they explain it as “the largest prisoner exchange operation in recent times“, especially since the end of the Cold War.

Gershkovich, 32, was sentenced on July 19 up to 16 years in prison in Russia after a test appear and behind closed doors, again accused of spying. After hearing the news of his release, the Wall Street Journal It is published on the front page of the site.

The American journalist was arrested at the end of March 2023 in Yekaterinburg, in a case described as ” unexpected damage for a foreign journalist” since the fall of the Soviet Union. The charges against him are based on a report he made about him special russian tank factory for the CIA, according to what AFP reported.

This is the first exchange between Moscow and Western countries since the release of the American basketball player Brittney Grinerdetained in Russian territory for a drug possession case and exchanged for a prominent Russian arms dealer Viktor Boutwho were imprisoned in the United States.

Among others, in addition to Whelan y GershkovichThey are also released Vladimir Kara-MurzaPulitzer Prize-winning Russian-British journalist sentenced to 25 years in prison on treason-related charges, and Russian-American journalist Also Kurmashevasentence to six years for “the spread of false information“of the work of the Russian army in the war against Ukraine.

Journalist Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan; American-American journalist Alsou Kurmasheva; and Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.

In 2010, in a previous exchange, 14 spies are freeamong them the Russians Anna ChapmanConvicted in the United States, and Sergei Skripal, a two-time businessman imprisoned in Russia. Wednesday’s prisoner exchange managed to take place despite the fact that they are currently going through one of the lowest points in the relationship between the two countries after the Cold War.

Biden celebrated the exchange

President of the United States Joe Biden praised the prisoner exchange with Russia, which would allow the return of Gershkovich and former Marines to the United States, as “diplomatic feat“that has put an end to his “pain”.

“The agreement that guarantees your freedom is the work of the government,” said the Democratic leader, confirming that three American cities y permanent resident They are on the list of 26 people released by Russia.

“Some of these women and men have been unjustly detained for years. All of them have endured the suffering of uncertainty and uncertainty. Today, your pain is over,” he said in a statement.

FP/ds