U.S.-Russia prisoner swap to free Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan

The Biden medication has agreed to a captive speech with Russia and is expected to soon unafraid the merchandise of 3 American citizens imprisoned successful Russia including Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich, Marine seasoned Paul Whelan, and Russian-American vigor writer Alsu Kurmasheva, a elder medication authoritative confirms.  The swap would beryllium portion of an historically analyzable 24-person captive swap betwixt the U.S., Russia, Germany and 3 different Western countries. 

The speech has not occurred yet.

Whelan and Gershkovich were some imprisoned successful Russia connected accusations of espionage that were consistently disputed by the United States. Kurmasheva, a dual American and Russian citizen, was detained successful Russia successful June of 2023 connected charges of spreading mendacious accusation astir the Russian army. 

As portion of the deal, astatine slightest 12 governmental prisoners held successful Russia are expected to beryllium released to Germany. Eight Russian nationals are expected to beryllium returned to Russia, including respective with suspected ties to Russian intelligence. Among the Russian nationals expected to beryllium progressive successful the swap is Vadim Krasikov, a convicted murderer who has been serving a beingness condemnation for a 2019 sidesplitting successful Germany that the judges said had been ordered by Russian national authorities. 

Kremlin professional and Washington Post contributor Vladimir Kara-Murza is expected to beryllium flown to the U.S. Kara-Murza is simply a British-Russian national and a greenish paper holder. His household lives successful the U.S.

Details of the deal, which was coordinated by a fig of U.S. authorities agencies including the White House, State Department and Central Intelligence Agency, were intimately held, but speculation astir the swap had mounted implicit respective days aft salient Russian governmental prisoners, including Kara-Murza, were moved from their prisons. 

The White House, State Department and CIA did not instantly instrumentality a petition for comment. 

When asked astir the question of Russian prisoners connected Wednesday, State Department lawman spokesperson Vedant Patel said, "I don't privation to speculate connected immoderate reasoning. What I tin accidental is that the United States continues to beryllium focused connected moving astir the timepiece to enactment to get our wrongfully detained American citizens home. And that continues to beryllium the case, but nary updates beyond that."

Speaking earlier this period astatine the Aspen Security Forum successful Colorado, nationalist information advisor Jake Sullivan said the medication was "determined" to marque a woody hap for Americans successful Russia. 

"[W]e are determined to marque it happen," helium said connected July 19 successful effect to a question astir Gershkovich. "And I volition see it 1 of the astir important things betwixt present and the extremity of the year, and particularly present astatine the extremity of the month, for america to effort to get thing done wherever we tin get him home."

Evan Gershkovich, left, and Paul Whelan successful photos from Russian tribunal appearances. Left: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images; Right: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter, was taken into Russian custody portion connected duty successful Yekaterinburg March 2023. Russian authorities charged him with espionage, drafting contiguous condemnation from the U.S. government, which determined Gershkovich to beryllium wrongfully detained. 

In July, Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years successful situation by a Russian court. The U.S. called his hurried proceedings "a sham."

Paul Whelan, a Marine veteran, was arrested successful December 2018 erstwhile helium was traveling successful Russia to be a friend's wedding. He was sentenced to 16 years successful situation successful 2020. 

Whelan and his household person vehemently denied the espionage allegations against him and said helium was being utilized arsenic a governmental pawn by Russia.  Whelan was near retired of respective erstwhile captive swaps with Russia nether some the Trump and Biden administrations. 

Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, whose bureau was an integral portion of the squad progressive successful negotiations, said astatine the Aspen league connected July 17, "I cognize Evan and Paul volition travel location to the United States and measurement onto U.S. soil." 

"I conscionable don't cognize when," helium added. 

–Tucker Reals contributed reporting.

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• Paul Whelan
• Evan Gershkovich
• Russia