Summary of Recent Prisoner Exchange Involving Russia and the West
The US has confirmed the involvement of 24 people in a prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries, including the US and Germany. Notable prisoners released include US citizens Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, and former US Marine Paul Whelan. As part of the exchange, Russian security service hitman Vadim Krasikov was freed by Germany following days of speculation about a major swap involving Russia and Western nations.
Evan Gershkovich
US journalist Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony on espionage charges. He was first arrested in Yekaterinburg and accused of working for the CIA, a claim vehemently denied by him, the WSJ, and the US government. Gershkovich was the first US journalist to be convicted of espionage in Russia since the Cold War.
Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan, a 54-year-old US citizen and former Marine, was sentenced to 16 years in jail in Moscow on suspicion of spying. He is a citizen of four countries and was arrested in 2018 by Russia’s FSB. Whelan’s family has consistently denied the spying charges.