The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details had not been publicly disclosed, did not specify who was included in the deal.
But Americans considered by the US to be wrongfully detained in Russia include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan.
Both had been convicted of espionage charges that the US government considered baseless.
Russia has long been interested in getting back Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services.
Speculation had mounted for weeks that a swap was near because of a confluence of unusual developments, including a startlingly quick trial and conviction for Gershkovich that Washington regarded as a sham.
Also in recent days, several other figures imprisoned in Russia for speaking out against the war in Ukraine or over their work with the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were moved from prison to unknown locations.
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A recent prisoner swap between the US and Russia has captivated the world. Speculations were rife regarding the swap, which includes Americans like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a Michigan-based executive. The US government considers their espionage charges baseless, leading to heightened interest in their release.
Russia, on the other hand, has been keen on regaining custody of Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany for murder on Moscow’s alleged orders. The exchange is part of a larger geopolitical narrative, with other prisoners linked to the war in Ukraine or the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny also being relocated.
The swap is considered a significant diplomatic move between the two countries and comes amidst escalating tensions. Stay updated on this developing story and catch live coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Channel 9, 9Now, and Stan Sport.
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