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Canadian-U.S. citizen Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich have been freed from a Russian prison as part of an international exchange deal, confirmed U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Biden hailed the swap as a significant achievement of diplomacy, expressing immense relief at the development and noting that the detainees’ “brutal ordeal” had finally concluded.
The president detailed that 16 individuals were released from Russian custody, comprising four Americans, five Germans, and seven Russians who were described as “political prisoners” in their homeland.
“Today’s events highlight the importance of having allies in the world,” Biden remarked during a White House address, flanked by the families of four released individuals—specifically three Americans and one green card holder. Among those freed were Russian-U.S. journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza.
According to reports from the Turkish presidency cited by Reuters, the exchange involved moving 10 prisoners to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the United States.
Whelan, 54, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and subsequently convicted of espionage in 2020, receiving a 16-year prison sentence. Both he and the U.S. government have consistently denied any allegations of espionage.
A native of Ottawa born to British parents, Whelan has lived in Michigan for over 20 years and served in the U.S. Marines before his arrest.
Whelan, who also possesses British and Irish citizenship, has spent time in detention under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Gratitude Expressed by Families and Supporters
Whelan’s family conveyed their appreciation to President Biden and all those involved in securing his release.
“Paul was held hostage for 2,043 days,” they remarked in a statement. “His case typifies an American in danger, held by the Russian regime as part of their cynical strategy to use individuals as bargaining chips for concessions.”
Meanwhile, Gershkovich was convicted of espionage on July 19 and sentenced to 16 years on charges the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have denounced as unfounded.
Following the swift and secretive nature of his trial within a heavily politicized justice system, the possibility for a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia became more plausible.
At 32, Gershkovich was apprehended in March 2023 while reporting from Yekaterinburg and has remained incarcerated since. Russian authorities have accused him of collecting secret information for the U.S., yet have failed to present any supporting evidence.
The Wall Street Journal welcomed Gershkovich’s release, praising the courage and tenacity displayed by him and his family throughout this challenging period. A joint statement from Dow Jones CEO and Wall Street Journal Publisher Almar Latour, alongside Editor in Chief Emma Tucker, condemned the actions of Vladimir Putin’s government, asserting that Gershkovich’s 491-day wrongful imprisonment stemmed from baseless allegations and a fabricated trial, emblematic of a broader assault on press freedom and truth. They noted that many journalists continue to be wrongfully held in Russia and beyond.
In recent weeks, speculation surrounding an impending prisoner swap had intensified, fueled by a series of unusual developments, including the astonishing trial of Gershkovich.
Additionally, several individuals imprisoned in Russia for opposing the war in Ukraine or associated with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny were recently relocated to undisclosed sites.
Russian Plane Sighted in Turkey
Footage from Reuters on Thursday captured a Russian government plane at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey.
Earlier, Turkish intelligence had announced its role in facilitating a large-scale prisoner exchange, indicating that a major swap between Moscow and Washington was in progress.
“Our organization has taken on a significant mediation role in this operation, which represents the most extensive exchange in recent times,” the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) stated.
This exchange marks the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War, surpassing the previous major exchange in 2010, which involved 14 individuals.
Whelan’s Experience in Detention
Whelan spoke with CBC News from prison in March, following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a remote facility the previous month.
In a surprising call to CBC foreign correspondent Briar Stewart in London, Whelan expressed hope that a deal for his release might be forthcoming. However, he conveyed concern regarding the safety of high-profile prisoners after learning of Navalny’s death—a situation Western governments attribute to the Kremlin, while Russia claims it resulted from natural causes.
“If the Russian government chose to prevent my departure or sought to exert pressure on my four countries, they could take drastic measures against me,” he remarked.
WATCH | Whelan expresses concerns for his safety following Navalny’s death:
‘Russia took me hostage,’ Paul Whelan says in surprise call from prison
During his call, Whelan described conditions in the labor camp, where he was compelled to work making winter clothing for utility workers six days a week.
“It’s fundamentally a labor camp,” he stated. “This is not a place intended for rehabilitation or correction.”
Whelan illustrated the dire circumstances, mentioning the lack of heat and hot water, even in winter, and shared his experiences of sharing scant facilities with 25 other inmates.
While he maintained a generally amicable rapport with fellow prisoners, he also recounted an incident when he was attacked by another inmate in November.
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