Russia To Free Incarcerated WSJ Reporter In Prisoner Swap

Russia has agreed to a prisoner swap with the U.S. and allies that includes freeing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after he was detained and convicted in the country over accusations of espionage, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Former U.S. marine Paul Whelan and British activist Vladimir Kara-Murza are also set to be released in the deal, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Gershkovich was charged with espionage in 2023 and was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but the U.S. has maintained that he was wrongly imprisoned by the Russian government, denying allegations of spying.

The exchange involves a total of 26 people from seven countries, including the U.S., Russia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus, according to Turkish officials who spoke to Axios. Just three Americans are involved in the exchange, while 13 others are to be transferred to Germany and ten are to be returned to Russia.

Gershkovich’s conviction marked the first time since the Cold War that an American reporter was put on trial for espionage in Russia. The WSJ reporter was first arrested in March 2023 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Kara-Murza, who holds dual citizenship in Russia, was handed a record 25-year sentence after being convicted of treason in Russia due to his repeated criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. Whelan was first detained in 2018 and was also convicted on espionage charges, receiving a 16-year sentence.

Whelan criticized