Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov Indicates Possibility of Negotiating Prisoner Exchange with US Involving Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has indicated that Moscow may be open to negotiating a prisoner exchange with the United States involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Ryabkov made the comments during a press conference on Thursday, noting that the Russian government would only consider such a swap after a court delivers its verdict in the espionage case against Gershkovich.

Ryabkov also noted that the two countries have a “working channel” that has been used in the past to reach agreements, and that there is no need for the involvement of a third party. Gershkovich was arrested in Moscow in April 2019 and charged with espionage. He has been held in a Moscow prison since then.

The United States has repeatedly called for Gershkovich’s release, and has also offered to exchange him for two Russian nationals currently held in the U.S. on charges of conspiring to act as unregistered agents of the Russian government. However, Russia has so far refused to consider such a swap.

The Wall Street Journal has also called for Gershkovich’s release, and has accused the Russian government of using the charges against him to intimidate other journalists. The paper has also noted that Gershkovich’s trial has been delayed multiple times, and that he has been denied access to his lawyer.

It remains to be seen whether the Russian government will ultimately agree to a prisoner exchange with the United States. In the meantime, Gershkovich remains in a Moscow prison awaiting the verdict of his trial.