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Evan Gershkovich Released in Historic Prisoner Swap

Evan Gershkovich has been released in a historic prisoner swap, marking a significant moment in international relations. Discover the implications of this exchange and what it means for journalism and diplomacy.

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In a dramatic turn of events, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been released from Russian custody as part of a sweeping prisoner exchange involving seven nations. This significant swap not only freed Gershkovich but also two other American nationals, alongside numerous Russian opposition figures. It marks one of the most extensive exchanges between Russia and Western nations in decades.

As part of this intricate negotiation, Western governments agreed to release eight individuals, including Vadim Krasikov, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the assassination of a Chechen former fighter in Berlin.

In return, Russia released a total of 16 prisoners, among them notable figures such as Oleg Orlov, a prominent co-chairman of the human rights organization Memorial; Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist recognized for his columns published in The Washington Post from behind bars; and Ilya Yashin, a well-known leader of the opposition who has also faced imprisonment.

This exchange involved a total of 24 prisoners from various countries, including the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia, highlighting the complexity and international implications of the negotiations.

The pivotal aspect of the arrangement for Russia was the release of Krasikov, a demand that President Vladimir Putin had pursued fervently. I consulted with my colleague Neil MacFarquhar, an expert on Kremlin affairs, to understand why Krasikov’s return was so crucial to Putin.

  • “Russia enacted a law in 2006 that formally legitimized extrajudicial killings abroad targeting those Moscow accuses of extremism and terrorism,” Neil explained.
  • “In the Kremlin’s view, Krasikov’s assassination of a Chechen separatist leader in Berlin was seen as a legitimate act.”
  • “Moreover, Krasikov was an agent of the F.S.B. — the successor to the K.G.B., where Putin spent a significant portion of his career — adding a personal element to the urgency of rescuing one of his own,” he added.

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