Russia freed American journalist Evan Gershkovich

American reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan are among the 26 prisoners released in Ankara. This happened within the framework of a prisoner exchange between Russia and 6 Western countries, reported AFP.

"10 Russians, including two minors, were handed over in exchange for 16 Western citizens detained by Russia," said the Turkish presidency, which welcomed the historic exchange organized by Turkey's MIT intelligence service.
Wall Street Journal journalist Gershkovich was released just weeks after being sentenced by a Russian court to 16 years in prison for espionage.

In addition to Gershkovich and Whelan, the exchange involved German Rico Krieger, who was imprisoned in Belarus, Russian dissident Ilya Yashin and Russian intelligence colonel Vadim Krasikov, who was detained in Germany for the murder of a Chechen separatist.

13 of the prisoners released by Russia went to Germany, and three to the USA.

The prisoners were transported to Ankara by planes from the USA, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Belarus and Russia.

"Prisoners were transported to Turkey on a total of 7 planes, including two from the US and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia, as part of the prisoner exchange operation," the Turkish presidency added.
Turkey said the swap was "the largest prisoner exchange between the US, Russia and Germany in recent years". | BGNES