WORLD NEWS
Who are Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan? The Americans released by Russia in prisoner swap
More than twenty prisoners have been exchanged between Russia and the United States, including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan
After intense negotiations between the United States and Russia, the two countries agreed to a prisoner swag. Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in 2023, and Paul Whelan, detained in 2018, have both been released as a part of the deal. Altogether, 26 prisoners will be released, making it the largest swap between the two countries since the Cold War.
Details are continuing to emerge about the trade, and we will continue to provide updates as the events unfold. So far, we know that ten prisoners will be sent to Russia, thirteen will be moved to Germany, and three will return directly to the United States.
Who is Evan Gershkovich?
Evan Gershkovich is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and was detained on charges related to espionage in Moscow on March 29, 2023. The US has referred to the charges as false. Gershkovich has worked for various major global outlets, including The New York Times and the Agence France-Presse. Between 2017 and 2020, he also worked for The Moscow Times, and had been based in Russia since his time at the outlet.
Who is Paul Whelan?
Paul Whelan’s name may sound familiar to those who remember the negotiations that took place between the two countries that led to the release of women’s basketball player Brittney Griner. The US had tried to secure the release of Whelan and Griner, but was unsuccessful. Whelan was arrested, charged, and tried for espionage, and he was sentenced to 26 years in prison. However, the swap cuts this sentence short.
Whelan’s backstory is more complicated than that of Gershkovich. He was born in Canada and holds citizenship in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. Though he served in the US Marines for many years, he received a Bad Conduct Discharge, a step down from a Dishonorable Discharge, in 2008. The BBC reported in 2020 that the discharge was the result of a court-martial where Whelan was accused of stealing $10,000 from the US government.
Soon after, he began working for two US-based companies when he was detained in Russia: Kelly Services and BorgWarner. He was still employed at BorgWarner when he was arrested. Russia has claimed that he was able to obtain intelligence contacts through his work, prompting his arrest. The United States has maintained that the charges were illegitimate.