Not without consideration
Putin hints at possible release of WSJ journalist
February 9, 2024, 5:10 a.m
The American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been in prison in Russia for almost eleven months, and the public prosecutor’s office is accusing him of espionage. In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Kremlin boss Putin hints that he could be released – but at a high price.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is willing to talk about the case of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is in custody in Russia. “I do not rule out that Mr. Gershkovich will return to his home country,” Putin said in the interview with US talk show host Tucker Carlson, which was published that night. “It makes no sense to keep him in prison in Russia.”
The US should think about how it could contribute to a solution, said the Kremlin chief – and hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange. “We are ready to talk.” There is already a constant dialogue between the responsible authorities in the USA and Russia. “We are ready to solve the problem, but there are certain conditions that are being discussed between the intelligence services. I believe that an agreement can be reached,” Putin said. His statements could be interpreted as meaning a release of the Tiergarten murderer Vadim K., who was convicted in December 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany. K. shot a Georgian in Berlin in 2019, presumably on behalf of the Kremlin.
WSJ: Putin’s statements “encouraging”
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), for which Gershkovich researched until his arrest in Russia, responded to Putin’s statements with a statement. “We are encouraged to see Russia’s desire for a deal that brings Evan home,” it said. It is hoped that the reporter can quickly return to his family and to the editorial office. “Evan is a journalist and journalism is not a crime.”
The 33-year-old Gershkovich was arrested at the end of March 2023 on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg in the Urals. The Russian prosecutor’s office accuses him of espionage. The American, whose parents come from the Soviet Union, and the newspaper vehemently reject the allegations. The US government also emphasized that Gershkovich was being held unjustly. In December, the White House said Moscow had rejected an offer from Washington to release the journalist. At the end of January, his pre-trial detention was extended by another two months, meaning he will remain behind bars until March 30, according to the Interfax news agency.
In December 2022, after months of negotiations, US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia for alleged drug possession, was released. In return, the United States released Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the “Death Dealer,” from prison.