Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 02:28 pm
Washington, United States – US journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan are set to be freed by Russia in one of the biggest East-West prisoner exchanges since the Cold War, according to US media reports on Thursday. The reports, CNN among other US networks, suggested that ABC News has said the swap was multi-country, including Russia.
Official Reactions
There has been no immediate confirmation from US officials, and the Kremlin declined to comment on any possible exchange. Kremlim spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “I still have no comment on this topic.”
Background on Gershkovich
Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, 31, was arrested in March 2023 and in July convicted of espionage charges that the United States condemned as a sham trial.
Signs of a Swap
The momentum for an upcoming prisoner exchange gained its pace early on Thursday after two source told a news corp that one of the planes used during the previous exchange agreement had landed at the Russian exclave, Kaliningrad. Also, several high-profile prisoners with long-term sentences serving in various prisons in the Russian federation went missing, one of them being Whelan.
Among those expected to be repatriated to Russia as part of the swap is Vadim Krasikov, a Russian citizen who has been serving time in a German prison for the murder of a former Chechen rebel commander.
Political Fallout
Of course, the swap would be a boon for President Joe Biden, whose VP, Kamala Harris, is widely expected to face off against Republican Donald Trump this November. That would make this the first prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since December 2022, when US basketball player Brittney Griner was swapped for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Historical Background
The anticipated swap would be the largest on record since 2010, when Russia and the West exchanged 14 alleged spies. Other big exchanges of more than a dozen people happened during the Cold War. The most significant exchanges took place in 1985 and 1986.
An aircraft used in a previous Griner and Bout exchange was followed flying from Moscow to Kaliningrad on Thursday morning by Flightradar24. The plane left from Kaliningrad’s two hours later.
Whelan’s Situation
Washington has also been pushing for the release of Paul Whelan, 54, whom Moscow arrested in 2018 and charged with spying.
Other Disappearances
One of these is the journalist and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, a 42-year-old joint Russian and British citizen. With a sentence of 25 years in Siberia on treason and other charges, Kara-Murza’s whereabouts are now unknown as his lawyers were twice denied access to the facility he was supposed to be held in.
Other Cases
Two Russians suspected of spying for Moscow were sentenced on Sunday to more than a year and a half in jail in Slovenia but were promptly handed a court order to leave the country.
Detentions Rising
Detentions of US citizens have mounted in Russia lately, according to Washington, as an attempt by the Kremlin to secure the release of Russians convicted abroad.
