Russia could talk to the United States about a potential prisoner exchange that would include Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is detained in Russia, after the court pronounces a verdict in his case, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.
/nginx/o/2023/04/13/15254263t1h3cde.jpg "AbroadToday, 16:241 Russia allows negotiations with the USA on the exchange of the imprisoned Gershkovich 17")
Russia could talk to the United States about a potential prisoner exchange that would include Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is detained in Russia, after the court pronounces a verdict in his case, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.
Talks about a possible exchange could take place through channels established by the Russian and US security services for such purposes, the official told the Russian propaganda outlet TASS in an interview.
“We have a working channel that was used before to reach specific agreements, and these agreements were fulfilled,” Ryabkov said, noting that the involvement of a third country was not necessary.
Moscow will talk about the possible exchange of prisoners only when the Russian court has passed the verdict in the case of Gershkovic, accused of espionage, the official emphasized.
In December, American basketball star Brittney Greiner was released after ten months in prison in Russia in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Another American, former Marine Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018. Russia also accuses him of espionage.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken earlier this month urged his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to immediately release Gershkovic and Whelan.
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