US journalist Evan Gershkovich (X/SabriSun_Miller)
New Delhi: A major prisoner swap is currently underway between Russia and Western nations, resulting in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russian detention, according to Reuters. The exchange involves a total of 26 individuals from seven countries, including the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus, as confirmed by Turkish security sources and the Turkish presidency.
As part of the agreement, Russia has received 10 prisoners, including two minors, while Germany has taken in 13 prisoners, and the US is accepting three prisoners, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough. A high-stakes prisoner exchange is reportedly underway, potentially involving prominent detainees like Paul Whelan, a former US Marine held in Russia since 2018, and several Russian dissidents who vanished from prison recently.
According to Bloomberg, Gershkovich and Whelan, both accused of espionage by Russia, have already been released and are headed to a location outside Russia. Earlier, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed a Russian government plane, previously used for prisoner swaps, flying from Moscow to Kaliningrad and back, sparking speculation about a possible transfer at the Polish border, as reported by Reuters.
Although multiple sources indicate that the prisoner exchange could be the most significant since the Cold War era, both Russia and the US have remained tight-lipped about the exchange location. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment.
Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March 2023 while reporting in Ekaterinburg, was recently sentenced to 16 years in prison despite pleading not guilty. The Wall Street Journal and the US government have consistently maintained that the charges against him are unfounded and lack merit.
Recent activity involving at least six special Russian government flights suggests that preparations are underway for a significant prisoner exchange. The sudden disappearance of prominent political prisoners, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, has raised concerns that they may be involved in the swap.
According to Ivan Pavlov, a Russian human rights lawyer, the unexplained absence of these individuals implies a possible gathering in Moscow for the exchange.
The anticipated exchange is expected to result in the release of 20 to 30 Russian political prisoners and journalists, with the US potentially reciprocating by freeing several Russian nationals convicted of various crimes, including cybercrimes.
The most significant prisoner exchange since the Cold War era took place in 2010, involving 14 individuals. More recently, in December 2022, Russia and the US conducted a high-profile swap, exchanging basketball star Brittney Griner who was serving a nine-year sentence for cannabis oil possession.
For arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year sentence in the US. Months of discreet, multilateral talks have been ongoing, with few details emerging publicly. The situation remains dynamic, with neither side officially confirming the specifics of the potential exchange, which has been the subject of extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations involving multiple governments.
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