Evan Gershkovich, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, has been freed from prison in Russia as part of a massive prisoner exchange with the United States and several other NATO members. In addition, Paul Whelan—a former U.S. Marine—is also believed to have been released by Russia as part of the deal.
The exact details of the exchange have not yet been made public, but some have speculated this may be the largest exchange of prisoners between the U.S. and NATO on one side and Russia on the other since the end of the Cold War. Gershkovich was tried and convicted on charges of espionage earlier this year while on assignment for The Wall Street Journal in Yekaterinburg. Both the newspaper and the U.S. government deny the spying claims.
Like Gershkovich, Whelan was also tried and convicted on spying charges. Whelan was in the midst of serving a 16-year sentence prior to the announcement of the exchange late Wednesday night—spending more than five years in prison. Gershkovich had been detained in a Russian prison for 16 months prior to his trial in July.
Additional details on the exchange, including which Russian-aligned individuals have been released and if any additional Americans are part of the deal, are not yet public.
This story is developing…