In a surprise move, Russia has agreed to release two high-profile American detainees, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, in a prisoner exchange deal. The development, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as a welcome relief for the families of the two men.
Gershkovich had been sentenced to 16 years in prison last month on espionage charges widely regarded as baseless. Whelan, on the other hand, had been left behind in a previous prisoner swap that saw the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in 2022.
The terms of the latest prisoner exchange remain unclear, including the identities of the Russian nationals released by the U.S. and any potential concessions made by Washington. The deal is seen as a significant diplomatic breakthrough, coming after months of tense negotiations between the two countries.
The release of Gershkovich and Whelan had become a rallying cry for some U.S. politicians, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In a recent speech to the party convention, Trump vowed to secure the prisoners’ release, warning enemies of the U.S. that they would face severe consequences if they failed to comply.
