Potentially bringing relief to the family of Evan Gershkovich, there are significant indications from Russian officials suggesting a possible trade of the imprisoned US reporter for a Russian operative who assassinated a Chechen protestor in Berlin. This, however, does not mitigate the egregious assertion that he was convicted of fabricated espionage allegations, and currently faces a daunting 16-year hard labour sentence imposed last Thursday.
This worrying pressure on Gershkovich and other international civilians still in confinement, specifically Alsu Kurmasheva, journalist and editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, is very genuine. 32-year-old Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, was detained in Yekaterinburg under allegations of intelligence-gathering at a local tank manufacturing unit, and has been held for 478 days based on undisclosed evidence. His trial, conducted behind closed doors, has faced international denouncement, and his editor has labelled it a “mockery”.
This represents the first indictment of a US journalist in Russia on espionage charges since the ending of the Cold War, however it appears reminiscent of traditional spy exchanges from that era. Both Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and President Vladimir Putin have publicly indicated that negotiations for a swap are in progress with Putin expressing his interest in repatriating Vadim Krasikov, an FSB hitman under life-imprisonment in Germany for the murder of a former Chechen rebel leader in Berlin. Krasikov has been the focus of numerous previous failed attempts for an exchange by Moscow.
The potential for a Putin pardon only arose after the surprising and sudden conviction of Gershkovich. An appeal to the decision can be lodged within 15 days, possibly postponing the swap. Nevertheless, it is more likely that Moscow would prefer Gershkovich refraining from challenging his conviction, enabling them to argue that it went uncontested.
However, irrespective of the true motivations of Russia, it remains evident that Gershkovich was simply executing his reporter duties. As stated by US President Joe Biden: “journalism is not a crime.” Gershkovich should be promptly released.