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Evan Gershkovich, who was released from detention in Russia, reacts after disembarking from a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024. REUTERS
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich requested an interview with Putin before his release. The historic deal freed three Americans, including Gershkovich
Just before his release as part of a historic Russia-US prisoner swap, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich made a daring last request to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Gershkovich, who had been detained in Russia for over a year on espionage charges, filled out a form requesting presidential clemency and used the final line to ask if Putin would grant him an interview, the New York Post reported. On Thursday, a long and complex negotiation ended with the release of 24 prisoners, including former marine Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
“I’m grateful to share the sublime news that our colleague Evan Gershkovich has finally been released after almost 500 days in a Russian prison,” said Robert Thomson, CEO of NewsCorp, the WSJ’s parent company. The negotiations for the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War also involved discussions between US President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were greeted by cheers from family and friends as they disembarked a plane, before each embracing Biden and Harris. https://t.co/A3cEHVotNu pic.twitter.com/BEajQDWTSm— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) August 2, 2024
The talks on prisoner swap were so sensitive that officials used analog methods to communicate, hand-delivering documents to avoid leaks. CIA Director William Burns traveled to Turkey to finalise logistics for the swap, which included the release of eight Russian convicts. The swap included the release of other prominent Kremlin critics, such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist sentenced to 25 years on treason charges.
In his first comments after being released, Gershkovich drew attention to the hundreds of political prisoners still held in Russia. His release comes after he faced solitary confinement in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison, a facility known for housing political prisoners and serious criminals. During his time in prison, Gershkovich focused on improving his writing skills, reading Russian classics, and maintaining communication with family and supporters.
Former US President Donald Trump has launched a sharp attack against President Joe Biden over the US government’s handling of the prisoner swap that secured the release of the Wall Street Journal reporter. The Republican presidential nominee, who said he did not have details of the swap, asked whether “murderers, killers, or thugs” were released.
“So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia? How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)? Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs? Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything, but especially hostage swaps,” Trump wrote on his Truth social account.
