Russia agrees to free Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan in multi-country prisoner swap

Russia and the United States person agreed to swap prisoners successful an bonzer multipart deal, according to elder Biden medication official.

The swap volition let the 2 wrongfully detained American citizens held by Moscow, Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich and erstwhile U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, to instrumentality home.

RELATED: Russia sentences US writer Evan Gershkovich to 16 years aft little trial

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested by Russian authorities successful March 2023 for espionage, a complaint helium and U.S. officials flatly deny, with President Joe Biden saying Gershkovich was targeted for being a writer and an American.

After an unusually hasty proceedings that played retired down closed doors, Gershkovich was recovered blameworthy and sentenced to 16 years successful a high-security penal colony.

RELATED: Sister of Paul Whelan attends UN Security Council meeting, asks Russia to escaped her brother

Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, was arrested successful December 2018 portion traveling connected an American passport successful Russia and besides accused of espionage.

RELATED: Evan Gershkovich's parents talk retired astir 1 twelvemonth aft American writer detained by Russia

Both the Biden and Trump administrations denied the allegation against Whelan. He was convicted connected the charges successful June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years successful prison, yet serving five.

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