Evan Gershkovich Released from Russian Imprisonment: A Celebratory Moment for The Wall Street Journal

A Day of Joy and Relief: Evan Gershkovich’s Release from Russian Imprisonment

At precisely 11:16 a.m. on Thursday, Emma Tucker, the distinguished editor of The Wall Street Journal, sent an impassioned email to the newsroom: “A few moments ago, Evan walked free from a Russian plane. He will shortly be on a flight back to the U.S.” The announcement sparked spontaneous eruptions of joy and exuberant cheers throughout the room. The Journal’s newsroom had been anxiously awaiting this moment for a staggering 491 days, during which Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old foreign correspondent for the paper, had been unjustly imprisoned in Russia.

“I cannot even begin to describe the immense happiness and relief that this news brings, and I know all of you will feel the same,” Ms. Tucker expressed in her heartfelt email. “This is a day of great joy for Evan and his family, and a historic day for The Wall Street Journal.” Staff members quickly converged in the center of the newsroom, champagne in hand, some moved to tears, as they gathered to hear Ms. Tucker deliver a toast celebrating Mr. Gershkovich’s newfound freedom and the relentless efforts that led to this moment. Much of the admiration was directed towards Paul Beckett, the former Washington bureau chief who had dedicated the past nine months tirelessly working toward securing Mr. Gershkovich’s release.

Similar scenes of jubilation unfolded in The Journal’s London bureau. “He’s off the plane!” Gráinne McCarthy, a senior international editor in London, exclaimed after witnessing a livestream of Mr. Gershkovich disembarking from the plane that transported him to Turkey. Journal reporters in the London office erupted in cheers, embraced one another, and popped open bottles of Prosecco, their emotions a mix of giddiness and relief. “It feels like the end of a nightmare,” said Eliot Brown, a finance reporter and a close friend of Mr. Gershkovich.

During an all-company video call at noon, Almar Latour, the chief executive of Dow Jones, the publisher of The Journal, informed employees that Mr. Gershkovich was en route to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. From there, he would head to San Antonio, where Ms. Tucker, Mr. Latour, and several other executives were eagerly waiting to greet him. “There is so much to be said, and we will share a fuller story when we can. But best of all, Evan will share his story because that’s what truly matters,” Mr. Latour stated, as recorded in the call. “For now, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude, my intense gratitude for everyone on this call.”

Jason Conti, Dow Jones’s general counsel, recounted the “thousands and thousands of hours” his team dedicated to finding a pathway to Mr. Gershkovich’s release, commending him and his family for their resilience. “Truly remarkable, the way he handled himself over these last 491 days,” Mr. Conti remarked. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” In a poignant moment, Mr. Conti removed the #IStandWithEvan pin he had worn on his lapel for 16 months, stating, “We don’t need the buttons, but I need the tissues.”