Russia and the United States agree on a prisoner exchange

Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are among those released / Photo: India Today

Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are being freed in a major prisoner swap with Russia, several US media outlets have confirmed.

Gershkovich is a Wall Street Journal journalist accused of espionage and arrested by Russian authorities in March 2023 and recently sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Whelan is a former Marine detained since 2018 and sentenced to another 16 years in prison for espionage in 2020.

U.S. officials confirmed the exchange is underway and involves prisoners of several nationalities.

On Wednesday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that it was a priority for US President Joe Biden to secure the release of the two Americans, who Washington has repeatedly said were unjustly convicted.

According to CBS, the large prisoner swap includes Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who works for Radio Free Europe and has been detained since last year.

The same outlet reported that at least 12 political prisoners held in Russia could be released today in Germany, while eight Russians are scheduled to be released and return to Russia, including several suspected of spying in the West.

Among the Russian citizens released is Vadim Krasikov, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a Chechen in Germany and who German authorities believe was a member of the FSB and was following orders from Moscow.

Washington / EFE