Journalist Evan Gershkovich was among a group of Americans and Russian dissidents released from Russia yesterday as part of a seven-nation prisoner swap, the largest involving the US and Russia since the Cold War. The US and Europe released eight Russian prisoners in return, including professional hitman Vadim Krasikov, jailed in Germany in 2021 for murdering a Chechen separatist leader on Kremlin orders.
The complex, monthslong negotiations involved representatives from the US and Russia as well as Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, had been jailed since March 2023 on espionage charges and was found guilty last month. American Paul Whelan and Russian-American reporter Alsu Kurmasheva were also released, as well as prominent Russian dissident and US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza. See the list of 24 individuals released—and Americans still in Russia—here.
Leaders of both Russia and the US touted the swap as a win, though senior US officials cautioned the deal does not indicate improving relations between the nations. The Americans landed in Maryland late yesterday.
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