MOSCOW: The Kremlin said Thursday talks were taking place over a possible exchange involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia nearly one year ago on espionage charges.
Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old US citizen, was arrested by FSB security service agents in March 2023 and accused of spying, marking the first such charge against a Western journalist since the Soviet era. Both Gershkovich, his employers, and the White House vehemently refute the spying allegations, denouncing them as fabricated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness to engage in a swap involving the journalist, and the Kremlin revealed that conversations on the matter were ongoing behind the scenes.
Kremlin Emphasizes Discretion in Handling Such Talks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the necessity for discretion in handling such negotiations, stating, “We have repeatedly said that there are certain contacts, but they must be carried out in absolute silence.” He cautioned against disrupting this silence, warning that it could hinder progress in the exchange process.
Despite these discussions, a Moscow court recently decided that Gershkovich, who previously worked for the Moscow Times and AFP, would remain in pre-trial detention until late June. Peskov mentioned during the briefing that there was “no indication” of when the trial would commence, leading some observers to speculate that a swap is unlikely to occur before a verdict is reached.
The United States has accused Moscow of arbitrarily detaining US citizens on unfounded charges to leverage their release in negotiations involving Russians imprisoned abroad.
