Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich and Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan Freed from Russian Prison Following High-Profile International Negotiations

In a major development from Moscow, Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan have been freed from Russian custody.

This release marks a significant moment in ongoing international negotiations.

The release comes as part of a high-stakes prisoner swap involving Russia, with reports suggesting that around 20 to 30 political prisoners were exchanged.

Gershkovich, who is 32 years old, was arrested in March 2023 on espionage charges deemed unjust by the U.S. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison just last month.

Paul Whelan, aged 54, had been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 under similar spying allegations, which the U.S. government has consistently denied.

Speculation and Negotiations

Earlier this week, Slovenian broadcaster N1 Slovenia hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange involving the U.S., Germany, Russia, and Belarus. This speculation has now been confirmed with the release of Gershkovich and Whelan.