The United States proposed a release plan for American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, currently incarcerated in Russia on espionage charges. However, Russia flatly denied this offer, as reported by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. The specifics of the American proposal remained under wraps.
Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent, was arrested in Yekaterinburg at the end of March, accused of espionage. Both he and his employer vehemently refuted these allegations. Paul Whelan, another American, has been in Russian custody for years, facing similar accusations.
This proposal sparked significant interest, with media outlets like the WSJ closely following the situation and diplomatic discussions between the US and Russia ensued.
Prisoner swaps emerged as a potential factor in the US proposal. For instance, a deal involving the release of multiple Americans, including Gershkovich and Whelan, was speculated to be part of a broader exchange involving individuals from Russia and Belarus.
Sources hinted at these diplomatic efforts and the significance of the prisoner swap, without revealing the exact terms or concessions offered by the US. For instance, US President Joe Biden hailed the deal as a triumph of diplomacy, criticizing Russia for staging "show trials" and falsely accusing American citizens of espionage. The role of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in mediating this swap, involving prisoners in various countries, was also noted.
While Russia rejected the US offer for Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, the underlying dynamics and potential role of prisoner swaps remained intriguing.
Enrichment Data:
- Over several years, negotiations and prisoner exchanges took place between the US and Russia to secure the release of individuals, including Griner, Whelan, and Bout.
- Initially, President Biden approved a potential trade for Griner and Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout. The Russians demanded the inclusion of Krasikov in the negotiations, which complicated the exchange.
- In July 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered to secure the release of Griner and Whelan, but the Russians refused, demanding a comparable exchange for Whelan, such as Krasikov.
- In December 2022, Russia and the US conducted a 1-for-1 prisoner swap, trading Griner for Bout, but Whelan was not included due to Russia's insistence on a different treatment of his case.
- In August 2024, a larger prisoner swap took place, where Russia freed 16 people, including RFE/RL journalist Kurmasheva, WSJ reporter Gershkovich, and Michigan corporate security executive Whelan. In return, eight Russians were returned home, marking the largest exchange since the end of the Cold War.
