2024-08-02 19:34:29
The transaction is defined as the will of US President Joe Biden, brought a record number of people home
The largest prisoner swap between Russia and the US since the end of the Cold War took place on Thursday. Among those released from Moscow were iconic Americans – journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-marine Paul Wilson. The deal was defined as the legacy of outgoing US President Joe Biden, who managed to bring home a historic number of people, Western media reported.
After days of speculation over whether such a move was expected from the two governments, the deal was announced suddenly and was due to close in full on Thursday.
The agreement involved 24 people from 7 countries. 8 Russian nationals were expected to be returned – some of them suspected of ties to Russian intelligence. Turkey said it played the key role of mediator in the historic deal. According to CNN, the exchange took place at the airport in Ankara.
Reporters Without Borders said it was “relieved” by the news that Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal was expected to be released in the exchange. However, they emphasized, he “never had to spend a single day in a Russian prison”. “Journalists are not spies and should never be targeted for political purposes,” said Rebecca Vincent, the organization’s director of campaigns. She described the Russian government’s continued policy of “taking state hostages” as outrageous. Vincent drew attention to the more than 40 other journalists who remain in Russian prisons.
The European Center for Freedom of the Press and Media also noted Gershkovic’s expected release, writing “They celebrate Evan’s freedom and will continue to press for the release of all detained journalists in Europe.”
Among those released are three American citizens – journalist Evan Gershkovich, US Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsou Kurmasheva. Their names appear on the list, a senior US official confirmed. Among those released is Russian oppositionist and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was convicted of treason.
Gershkovich was the first American journalist detained by Russia on espionage charges since the Cold War. He was arrested in 2023 while preparing an article for the Wall Street Journal. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Whelan – a citizen of the US, Ireland, Britain and Canada – was detained at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 by Russian authorities who claimed he was involved in an intelligence operation. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Among the prisoners returned to Moscow is Russian murderer Vadim Krasikov, who has been in a German prison since 2019 for killing a Chechen exile in Berlin. Spies arrested in Slovenia and Norway, whose names have not been released, were also involved in the swap, as were two minors believed to be spies’ children.