In an interview with Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News personality, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Washington to acknowledge Moscow’s interests and convince Ukraine to hold negotiations.
In addition, Putin intimated that Moscow wants the release of its operative who is being held captive in Germany and stated that Russia is prepared to arrange a possible prisoner swap that would free Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on allegations of espionage that he disputes.
On Thursday, Vladimir Putin expressed his belief that “an agreement can be reached” to release US journalist Evan Gershkovich from jail. He also hinted that he would exchange Gershkovich for a Russian assassin who is now serving a life term in Germany.
While not directly asking for a swap, Putin mentioned to Vadim Krasikov by comparing the situation of 32-year-old Gershkovich to that of “a person serving a sentence in an allied country of the U.S.” who “due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals.”
Exchanges of prisoners are nothing new to Washington and Moscow; in December 2022, American basketball player Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout.
What does Putin says about US journalist?
The president of Russia likened Gershkovich’s detention in Moscow to “someone serving a sentence in an allied country of the US,” most likely alluding to Vadim Krasikov, who assassinated Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel, in Berlin’s Tiergarten park in 2019. According to US authorities, Russia has made further progress in the prisoner exchange negotiations.
Despite his earlier protestations, Putin seemed to imply that Krasikov was carrying out Moscow’s orders. German prosecutors have stated that Krasikov most certainly carried out the killing for Russia’s FSB security service.
In one of the European cities, a patriot killed [Khangoshvili]. Whether he was motivated to do it or not. That’s a distinct question, according to Putin.
Along with mentioning other fruitful prisoner exchange talks between the US and Russia, he said that the Gershkovich case “probably is going to be crowned with success as well but we have to agree.”
On the other hand, Putin stated that he thought the journalist had access to confidential material when Carlson questioned whether he would think about freeing Gershkovich right now.
What Russian Authorities Have Done For Evan?
When on a reporting assignment in the city of Ekaterinburg in March 2023, Gershkovich was taken into custody by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). He held press credentials from Russia’s foreign ministry at the time of his detention.
Putin claimed that Gershkovich’s receipt of confidential material was an act of espionage. Still, the National Press Club refuted this assertion in a statement released on Friday, stating that “when a journalist receives classified information it is an act of journalism.”
“The Russian authorities permitted Evan to report from Russia. Russian law approved of his activities. The statement demanded that Gershkovich be freed upon away and stated that “if Russia felt he wasn’t a journalist, he should not have been admitted to their country.”
According to the National Press Club, Putin also backed down from his previous claim that Gershkovich was employed by the special services, acknowledging in the Tucker Carlson interview that he had no idea who the reporter was employed by.
The statement said, “Evan works for the Wall Street Journal and only the Journal.”He is a journalist who worked as a journalist in Russia. Russia offers no evidence to the contrary.
Gerskovich remains untried, and last month a Moscow court prolonged his two-month prison sentence—the journalist’s fourth postponement since his apprehension. In a statement, The Wall Street Journal backed the endeavor to set Gershkovich free.
“We’re encouraged to see Russia’s desire for a deal that brings Evan home, and we hope this will lead to his rapid release and return to his family and our newsroom,” The Wall Street Journal stated.
