Finally Coming Home: WSJ Journalist Evan Gershkovich to Be Released by Russia in Prisoner Swap

After nearly 500 days in the notorious Lefortovo Prison alongside serial killers and other political prisoners, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will be released by Moscow in a prisoner swap with the U.S.

U.S. veteran Paul Whelan is also being freed.

From Fox News:

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while reporting on a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage. The Biden administration declared him “wrongfully detained” and The Wall Street Journal and U.S. government both emphatically denied the charges, calling them absurd on their face.

After the veteran reporter’s pre-trial detention was repeatedly extended, he was convicted in a closed court of “gathering secret information” and sentenced to 16 years at a high-security penal colony on July 19. His conviction was expected and experts and officials repeatedly said his only hope for freedom was a prisoner swap after his court proceedings concluded.

Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour and Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker blasted the “sham conviction” in a joint statement.

“This disgraceful, sham conviction comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained, away from his family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing his job as a journalist,” Latour and Tucker said.

“We will continue to do everything possible to press for Evan’s release and to support his family,” they continued. “Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until he’s released. This must end now.”

The last big prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia was in December 2022 when WNBA star Brittney Griner was exchanged for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

This story is developing…

WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich being released by Russia in prisoner swap; Paul Whelan also being freed https://t.co/bPMIdFUuZI

— Brian Flood (@briansflood) August 1, 2024