Hopes of Prisoner Swap Rise as US Journalist Evan Gershkovich Convicted to 16 years

[Social Media]

 

The anticipation of a potential prisoner swap involving American journalist Evan Gershkovich has heightened as a Russian court  announced its verdict and sentence this Friday of 16 years in a Russian Prison. Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, faced espionage charges in a trial that has progressed with unusual speed, fueling speculation about an imminent exchange for Russians held in Western jails.

 

On Friday morning, the prosecution called for an 18-year prison sentence for Gershkovich, 32, who has consistently denied the charges and pleaded not guilty in court. His arrest occurred in March while he was reporting in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, making him the first US journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War. Gershkovich has since been detained in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison but was returned to Yekaterinburg for his trial.

 

Russian authorities claim that Gershkovich was gathering classified information on Russia’s military capabilities on behalf of the CIA. However, this accusation has been strongly refuted by Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, and the US State Department, who have all dismissed the charges as baseless. Despite these claims, Gershkovich had been officially accredited as a journalist by the Russian Foreign Ministry. "Even as Russia orchestrates its shameful sham trial, we continue to do everything we can to push for Evan’s immediate release," the Wall Street Journal stated on Thursday.

 

The US Embassy in Moscow reiterated this stance, declaring, "Regardless of what Russian authorities claim, Evan is a journalist. He did not commit any illegal actions. Russian authorities have been unable to provide evidence that he committed a crime or justification for Evan’s continued detention."

 

The trial, typical for espionage cases, was conducted behind closed doors. Journalists were permitted a brief glimpse of the courtroom when the trial commenced last month, where Gershkovich, complying with Russian regulations, appeared with a shaved head and smiled from the defendants’ glass box. 

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted on Wednesday that Moscow possessed "irrefutable evidence" of Gershkovich's involvement in espionage, yet he provided no further details. To date, Russian authorities have not disclosed any information that supports the allegations, leading many to view Gershkovich's arrest as a strategic move to leverage jailed Americans in exchange for Russian operatives held abroad.

 

The expedited nature of the trial, with hearings advanced by over a month and witness testimonies completed in a single afternoon, suggests that a long-discussed prisoner swap may be near. In similar past cases, Russia has typically wrapped up court proceedings before negotiating an exchange.

 

President Vladimir Putin hinted at ongoing negotiations for a swap in a February interview with US broadcaster Tucker Carlson. "The special services are in contact with one another. They are talking ... I believe an agreement can be reached," Putin said, hinting that Russia might seek to exchange Gershkovich for Vadim Krasikov, who is currently imprisoned in Germany for the assassination of a Chechen exile in Berlin in 2019.

 

As the world watches, the verdict could not only determine Gershkovich's fate but also significantly impact US-Russia relations, with the possibility of a high-profile prisoner swap looming on the horizon.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-07-20

 

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[nobodysfriend]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

a potential prisoner swap involving American journalist Evan Gershkovich has heightened as a Russian court  announced its verdict and sentence this Friday of 16 years in a Russian Prison. Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, faced espionage charges in a trial that has progressed with unusual speed, fueling speculation about an imminent exchange for Russians held in Western jails.

 

... Just a pawn on the political chessboard of a cold war .

Edited July 20 by nobodysfriend

[digger70]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Russian authorities claim that Gershkovich was gathering classified information on Russia’s military capabilities on behalf of the CIA. However, this accusation has been strongly refuted by Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, and the US State Department, who have all dismissed the charges as baseless.      

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted on Wednesday that Moscow possessed "irrefutable evidence" of Gershkovich's involvement in espionage, yet he provided no further details 

 

Who's telling LIES  hey .

 

[retarius]

What's so damned special about this spy. He was clearly spying. If he was a Russian in the US taking photos of Raytheon he would be put in jail. 

[RuamRudy]

14 hours ago, retarius said:

What's so damned special about this spy. He was clearly spying. If he was a Russian in the US taking photos of Raytheon he would be put in jail. 

 

What did he actually do to get himself into this situation? It looks like no evidence has been released. Maybe there is nothing to show? 

[Evil Penevil]

Since the end of WWII, the U.S. has only used U.S. citizens with diplomatic immunity for espionage purposes.  The CIA definitely doesn't employ journalists because they are so vulnerable on one hand  and on the other,  could turn the tables on a spy organization by writing about their activities.  That said, U.S. intelligence agencies have on occassion employed journalists who aren't U.S. citizens.

 

Gershkovich had probably been targeted because he was a high-profile jourrnalist working for The Wall Street Journal.  Most likely Russia is looking for a prisoner swap along the lines of basketball player Brittney Griner for the arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Edited July 21 by Evil Penevil

[john donson]

cia playbook, pretending to be journalist...  hand in the cookie jar...  for NORMAL people they do nothing... for assets or agents... they got deals

[retarius]

8 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

What did he actually do to get himself into this situation? It looks like no evidence has been released. Maybe there is nothing to show? 

Yes there was information released. It was that he was taking photos of a defence factory in Ekaterinburg.

[Jingthing]

He's innocent. 

He's another hostage of Putin.

They're going to want a lot.