<p style="font-weight: 400;">On Thursday, it was reported that Russia has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a prisoner swap, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/evan-gershkovich-free-cde745b3">according to The Wall Street Journal</a>.</p>
<p>According to the WSJ, the deal is &#8220;part of the largest and most complex East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.&#8221; The agreement involved two dozen prisoners and at least six countries.</p>
<p>Three Americans and one American green card holder were released in the swap, as Russia also freed journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza, the report said.</p>
<p>Russian hit man Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany, was reportedly at the center of the agreement.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Gershkovich, 32, was arrested in March 2023 in Yekaterinburg, accused of being a CIA spy and convicted in June. Russia also accused Whelan, the former director of global security for auto-parts supplier BorgWarner, of being a spy when he was arrested in 2018 at a wedding in Moscow. They accused him of keeping a flash drive that allegedly contained Russian state secrets. In 2020, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Russian prosecutors had alleged that “under instructions from the CIA” and “using painstaking conspiratorial methods,” Gershkovich “was collecting secret information” regarding a Russian defense contractor. The U.S. State Department called for his immediate release; no public evidence has been presented by Russia that supported its case. He was held in Moscow’s infamous Stalin-era Lefortovo Prison in a small cell and only <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/19/media/evan-gershkovich-espionage-trial-verdict-intl/index.html#:~:text=Evan%20Gershkovich%2C%20the%20first%20American,have%20denounced%20as%20a%20sham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allowed</a> one hour of walking every day.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“This disgraceful, sham conviction comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained, away from his family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing his job as a journalist,” Journal publisher Almar Latour and Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker stated,  “We will continue to do everything possible to press for Evan’s release and to support his family. Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until he’s released. This must end now.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Russia had rebuffed a request from Gershkovich’s legal team that he be moved from the prison to house arrest or be granted bail. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted that he would swap Gershkovich for Russians held in other countries, referencing Vadim Krasikov, an FSB operative.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">After Whelan was sentenced, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a <a href="https://www.state.gov/the-conviction-of-u-s-citizen-paul-whelan-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> demanding his “immediate release.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“The United States is outraged by the decision of a Russian court today to convict U.S. citizen Paul Whelan after a secret trial, with secret evidence, and without appropriate allowances for defense witnesses,” Pompeo stated. “We have serious concerns that Mr. Whelan was deprived of the fair trial guarantees that Russia is required to provide him in accordance with its international human rights obligations.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“The treatment of Paul Whelan at the hands of Russian authorities has been appalling. Russia failed to provide Mr. Whelan with a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal; and during his detention has put his life at risk by ignoring his long-standing medical condition, and unconscionably kept him isolated from family and friends,” Pompeo added.</p>

<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Russia Releases WSJ Reporter, Former Marine In Prisoner Swap: Report

CONTINUE READING

Iran Hired Americans To Assassinate Famed Dissident. One Just Got Sentenced.

Socialist Mayor Orders Police Union To Scrub Post That Called Her Out

Missouri Supreme Court Hands GOP Another Victory

‘Shut Up, You Ugly F*ck’: Democrats Melt Down After Stephen Miller Trolls Radically Woke Talarico

Radical Senate Candidate Admits He ‘Struggles’ To Say Israel Has A Right To Exist

Army Vet Dies After He’s Beaten Outside His Famed ‘Trump House’

News

Evan Gershkovich

Global Politics

Paul Whelan

Russia

Spying

World

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Russia Releases WSJ Reporter, Former Marine In Prisoner Swap: Report