đź”´ How Germany Enabled a Historic Prisoner Swap With Russia
Moscow’s concerns about a potential Trump presidency sped up the deal that freed WSJ’s Evan Gershkovich and 15 other prisonershttps://t.co/UGKC1vCRo4
— Amaury Brelet (@AmauryBrelet) August 5, 2024
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia since March 2023, has not lost his journalistic spirit despite his prolonged imprisonment. In a recent interview, WSJ publisher Almar Latour praised Gershkovich’s resolve and dedication to his profession, highlighting the reporter’s formal request to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin. Latour noted that Gershkovich’s request was a testament to his relentless pursuit of stories, stating, “Evan hasn’t lost his spirit as a journalist.
He’s a journalist with a hunger for stories. He’s a storyteller.
Gershkovich’s journalistic spirit persists
Even by Trump standards, siding with a murderous dictator who took Americans hostage is traitorous and pathetic.
You do not, in fact, have to hand it to Putin.https://t.co/mWAQ1aaMV8 pic.twitter.com/LOoiXQyaA7
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 5, 2024
He’s got a lot of energy, and boy, wouldn’t that be an amazing thing to see.”
The return of Americans detained in Russia is a triumph for diplomacy and the deft negotiations of the Biden/Harris Administration. After years of wrongful detention, they are back home and with their families, free.https://t.co/pFZIVaQ0jI
— Rep. Jimmy Panetta (@RepJimmyPanetta) August 4, 2024
Gershkovich was one of several Americans, including former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, released last week in a global prisoner swap announced by President Biden. The exchange also involved the release of five Germans and seven Russian citizens. Gershkovich’s detention in Yekaterinburg on espionage charges, which the United States and The Wall Street Journal have consistently denied, marked the first time an American journalist has been held in Russia on such charges since the Cold War.
If convicted, he could have faced up to 16 years in prison. Latour’s comments reflect both a celebration of Gershkovich’s resilience and a commitment to the principles of journalism, even under the most challenging circumstances. The speculation surrounding the potential location for an interview with Putin remains uncertain, with Latour suggesting that a neutral location might be considered, though he emphasized that such decisions are up to the newsroom.
