The White House is working on a fresh proposal to secure the release of journalist Evan Gershkovich and another American currently jailed in Russia. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been held on espionage charges since March, which he and the US government vehemently deny. The Kremlin rejected a previous proposal, prompting the National Security Council to develop a new one.
The second American detained is Paul Whelan, a former US Marine serving a 16-year sentence on spying charges. The US government and Whelan refute the allegations. The Assistant Editor at the WSJ leading the campaign for Gershkovich’s release expressed hope, stating they are heartened by signs of government efforts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the active pursuit of finding the right approach to bring both journalists home. Earlier this month, Russia rejected a substantial proposal for their freedom, but President Putin expressed a desire to reach an agreement with the US. Reports suggest Russia sought the return of a Russian assassin in exchange for Gershkovich and Whelan.
President Joe Biden, in a statement regarding a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, affirmed the administration’s commitment to prioritizing the release of detained Americans, including Gershkovich and Whelan. However, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, also detained in Russia, has not been mentioned in recent statements despite calls for her release.
Gershkovich, named Media Person of the Year by the Poynter Institute, is set to remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 30. Both Gershkovich and Whelan have been declared wrongfully detained, but Kurmasheva’s case remains unaddressed. The State Department stated it continuously reviews circumstances for indicators of wrongful detention.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has not responded to inquiries, and the situation continues to unfold.
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