Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich to Be Released in Prisoner Swap
Former Marine and Journalist Held in Russia for Years
A Diplomatic Breakthrough between Russia and the United States
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, and Evan Gershkovich, a detained American journalist, are set to be released in a historic prisoner swap between Russia and the United States. The move marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries, who have been at odds over the war in Ukraine.
Whelan, 52, has been held in Russia for more than five years. He was arrested in December 2018 on espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Gershkovich, 61, was detained in Moscow in 2017 and accused of spying for Lithuania. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The prisoner swap is a sign of warming relations between Russia and the United States. The exchange is expected to take place in Vienna, Austria.
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