During Thursday, the information came from Bloomberg that Russia is releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the US.
It was later confirmed by Turkey.
Prisoner exchange between Russia and the West
The place for the exchange takes place in the Turkish capital, Ankara, where a Russian government plane landed on Thursday afternoon. According to Turkey, there are a total of 26 prisoners. Ten, of which two are minors, are to be transferred to Russia, while 13 prisoners are transferred to Germany and three to the United States, reports Reuters.
The prisoners come from the USA, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus.
In addition to Gershkovich and Whelan, Turkey says that German Rico Krieger, who was imprisoned in Belarus and recently asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for help in a publicized video, is part of the exchange.
Ilya Yashin and FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov are also included. Krasikov was sentenced in 2021 in Germany for murdering a Chechen in a park in the capital Berlin.
Biden speaks out
In a statement US President Joe Biden says about the exchange:
“I am grateful to our allies who stood by our side during tough and complicated negotiations to achieve this result.”
“And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully imprisoned or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family.”
In addition to Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, Biden says that Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian-British opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza were also part of the exchange.
Condemned against his denial
Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan have been imprisoned in Russia after being convicted of espionage despite their denials.
Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison just over two weeks ago after being arrested during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg in March 2023.
Former US Marine Paul Whelan. Photo: YURI KOCHETKOV
Earlier signs that several countries are involved
Previously reported Reuters that there were several signs that a major prisoner exchange was underway between Russia and Belarus on the one hand, and the United States, Germany, Slovenia and Great Britain on the other.
