A prisoner swap involving as many as 30 people held by Russia, possibly including jailed Jewish American journalist Evan Gershkovich and Jewish dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, could be underway.
If it comes to pass, the exchange would be the largest prisoner swap between Russia and the United States since the end of the Cold War. Signs of an approaching prisoner swap have been reported by independent Russian media as well as international press.
Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal arrested in March 2023 on allegations of espionage, was sentenced earlier this month to 16 years in a maximum security prison. He, his employer, and the United States government vehemently deny the charges.
Security experts have long considered a prisoner swap to be the best bet for returning Gershkovich to the United States. Senior officials at the Kremlin have said that talks over a swap that would include his release are underway.
Since he was arrested more than a year ago, Gershkovich’s cause has been taken up by Jewish organizations and activists. In an echo of the Cold War-era movement to free Soviet Jewry, activists have turned to Jewish holiday rituals to raise awareness of his imprisonment, leaving an empty seat for him at the Passover seder, and sending him greeting cards ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.
During the past week, a number of political prisoners in Russia have reportedly been moved from the penal colonies where they are being held. That has prompted speculation that a prisoner swap — with Russia and Belarus on one side and the United States, Germany, Slovenia and Britain on the other — may be underway. It could involve between 20 and 30 political prisoners, according to a story published on Wednesday in the independent newsletter the Kozlov Paper that was reprinted in the Moscow Times.
Russian media has also reported at least six Russian government planes flying to and from the regions where the prisoners are held, according to Reuters, adding to speculation of an impending exchange.
Which prisoners could be swapped?
Among the prisoners in Russia who could be involved in the swap are Kara-Murza, a Russian-British activist and journalist sentenced on charges of treason who was recently moved from his Siberian prison; opposition politician Ilya Yashin; Lilia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeeva, former regional directors for the offices of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; human rights activist Oleg Orlov; 19-year-old dual Russian-German citizen Kevin Lik, the youngest person ever convicted of treason in Russia; artist and activist Daniil Krinari; and artist Alexandra Skochilenko.
A lawyer for Paul Whelan, the US Marine who has been held in a Russian prison since 2018, said she was unaware of his location and unable to contact him.
“There are rumors about a possible exchange,” the lawyer, Olga Karlova said. “I sent a request to the colony administration, but they are not responding.”
Neither American nor Russian officials confirmed that the prisoner movements were connected to a prisoner exchange, the Washington Post and Reuters reported, which is not unusual ahead of prisoner swaps. The largest swap since the Cold War came in 2010 and involved 14 people across both sides.
“We have waited 491 days for Evan’s release, and it’s hard to describe what today feels like,” Gershkovich’s parents, Ella and Mikhail and sister Danielle said in a statement. “We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close. Most important now is taking care of Evan and being together again. No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsu’s families.”
“We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Chancellor Scholz and every US or foreign government official who helped get Evan released,” they added.
“Our family has felt so much love and support from Evan’s fellow journalists, his wonderful friends, and many, many people around the world. It made a difference to Evan and to us. And we especially thank Evan’s colleagues at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. They have taken care of Evan and our entire family since the beginning, and we are forever grateful.”