Putin Frees Gershkovich and Other Americans in Exchange for Russian Hitman
Russia freed American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and others on Thursday in the biggest prisoner swap deal between the U.S. and Moscow since the end of the Cold War, with a Russian assassin heading back to his homeland as part of the arrangement.
A total of 26 people and seven countries were involved in the exchange, which took place in Ankara, Turkey, the Turkish presidency said. It also confirmed that Vadim Krasikov—an FSB hitman jailed in Germany for a shocking daylight murder—was included in the exchange.
As well as Gershkovich, fellow American and former U.S. marine Paul Whelan was confirmed as being part of the deal. Russian-American radio reporter Alsu Kurmasheva was also reported to be included, according to CBS News.