In a significant diplomatic achievement, the Biden administration has successfully negotiated the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian detention. This breakthrough, confirmed by a senior administration official, follows a complex and discreet negotiation process between Washington and Moscow.
Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March 2023 while reporting in Yekaterinburg, was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison on espionage charges in July. His trial, widely condemned by the U.S. government and international observers as unjust, drew substantial criticism from both the media and human rights advocates.
Paul Whelan, a dual U.S.-Irish-British-Canadian citizen, was detained in December 2018 at a Moscow hotel. Russian authorities accused him of espionage, though the specifics of the allegations remain unclear.
The prisoner swap, which transpired on Thursday, concludes months of intricate diplomacy and persistent efforts by U.S. diplomats. These negotiations involved exploring various incentives to prompt Russia’s agreement to release the detainees.
The successful resolution of this high-profile case has also sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Commentators have highlighted the contrast between the current administration’s achievement and former President Donald Trump’s prior campaign assertions regarding the release of American detainees.
“WHOA. Another huge accomplishment from the #BidenHarris administration,” tweeted A.J. Delgado, a former Trump campaign aide turned critic.
Eric Columbus, a former litigator for the U.S. House general counsel, remarked, “Trump loses his hostage as Evan Gershkovich is released.”
Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger weighed in with a touch of irony, saying, “Narrator…’But he did do it for someone else.’”
Legal analyst Barbara McQuade expressed relief, stating, “Wonderful to see the release of Michigan’s Paul Whelan and @WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russia.”
Author Elon Green also weighed in with pointed commentary: “Trump can eat s—.”
Philip Gourevitch of The New Yorker noted the timing of the release, saying, “Gershkovich’s release is great news – and interesting that Putin did it now eviscerating Trump’s vile claim that he would get Gershkovich freed at once if elected as a trophy from the Kremlin.”
Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Khan summed up the sentiment: “Thank goodness Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and others are being released from Russia due to the work of the Biden-Harris Administration and our allies. So, guessing Mr. Trump doesn’t have the leverage he thought he did.”
The resolution of this case marks a notable diplomatic success for President Biden and his administration.
