Largest Post-Soviet Prisoner Swap Between U.S. and Russia Frees 24
The United States and Russia completed their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich, fellow American Paul Whelan, and several dissidents, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that freed 24 people.
Gershkovich, Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with dual U.S.-Russian citizenship, arrived in the U.S. just before midnight for a joyous reunion with their families. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were present to greet them with hugs all around.
This significant trade occurred despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Initially, negotiators explored including Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the swap, but after his death in February, they instead crafted a 24-person deal that required major concessions from European allies. This included the release of a Russian assassin and the freedom of journalists, suspected spies, political prisoners, and others.
Biden celebrated the exchange, noting it as a diplomatic triumph while welcoming the returning Americans’ families to the White House. However, the deal highlighted an inherent imbalance: the U.S. and its allies had to release Russians charged or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for Russia freeing journalists, dissidents, and others imprisoned on what the West views as politically motivated charges.
“Deals like this one come with tough calls,” Biden remarked. “There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”
Under the agreement, Russia released Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter jailed in 2023 on espionage charges he and the U.S. government vehemently denied. His family expressed their joy in a statement, eagerly anticipating reuniting with him. The Wall Street Journal’s editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, called it a “joyous day,” and thanked everyone who supported Gershkovich during his detention.
Also freed was Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since 2018 on espionage charges he and Washington denied, and Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military, which her family and employer rejected.
Dissidents released included Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer serving a 25-year sentence on charges widely seen as politically motivated, along with multiple associates of Navalny. Other freed Kremlin critics included Oleg Orlov, a veteran human rights campaigner, and Ilya Yashin, imprisoned for criticising the war in Ukraine.
On the Russian side, they received Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany in 2021 for assassinating a former Chechen rebel in Berlin, reportedly on Moscow’s orders. Throughout negotiations, Russia was adamant about Krasikov’s release, with Putin personally advocating for it.
Following Navalny’s death, U.S. officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, renewed efforts to persuade Germany to release Krasikov. Eventually, a few of the released prisoners were either German nationals or had dual German-Russian citizenship.
Russia also received two alleged sleeper agents jailed in Slovenia, and three individuals charged in the U.S., including Roman Seleznev, a convicted hacker and son of a Russian lawmaker, and Vadim Konoshchenok, accused of providing American-made electronics and ammunition to the Russian military. Norway returned an academic suspected of being a Russian spy, and Poland sent back a detainee charged with espionage.
“Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world,” Biden said.
In total, six countries released at least one prisoner, with Turkey hosting the swap in Ankara. Biden has prioritised securing the release of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, achieving significant success as he prepares to leave office. During an Oval Office address, Biden mentioned that over 70 Americans had been brought home through various deals.
At one point on Thursday, Biden held Whelan’s sister’s hand, acknowledging her tireless efforts to secure her brother’s release. He also celebrated Kurmasheva’s daughter’s 13th birthday by leading the room in singing “Happy Birthday,” an emotional moment as she wiped away tears.
Despite criticism that such swaps incentivise future hostage-taking, the Biden administration defends these deals, claiming they have reduced the number of wrongfully detained Americans.
Emma Tucker recognised the debate surrounding these swaps but emphasised the importance of celebrating Gershkovich’s return. “For now, we are celebrating the return of Evan,” she wrote.
Thursday’s swap, involving 24 prisoners, was the largest since a 2010 deal that exchanged 14 individuals. Speculation about this swap had been mounting due to unusual developments, including Gershkovich’s swift trial, viewed by Washington as a sham, and other detained figures being moved from prison to unknown locations.
Gershkovich, arrested in March 2023 while reporting in Yekaterinburg, was accused without evidence of gathering secret information for the U.S. A son of Soviet emigres, he moved to Russia in 2017 and joined The Wall Street Journal in 2022.
Whelan, detained in December 2018, had been excluded from previous high-profile swaps, including the release of Marine veteran Trevor Reed in April 2022 and WNBA star Brittney Griner in December 2022.
Whelan’s family expressed their gratitude for his release, thanking the U.S. government for making it possible.
On a warm night, the freed Americans celebrated their return at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, taking selfies, hugging family members and friends, and sharing emotional moments with Biden and Harris. Biden even gave Whelan the flag pin from his own lapel.
or more information, see the Associated Press, with contributions from Jonathan J. Cooper at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Zeke Miller, and Colleen Long.
