Report: Russia, US Open to Prisoner Swap Involving Reporter Gershkovich

Facts

• On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that Russia and the US have considered a prisoner swap that could potentially involve Russian-held Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US-held Vladimir Dunaev.¹
• These comments came one day after Lynne Tracy, US ambassador to Russia, was allowed to visit Gershkovich, while staffers from the Russian Embassy in Washington DC were allowed to meet with Dunaev.²
• Gershkovich has been held by Russia since March on espionage charges, which the Journal and the US government deny.³
• Meanwhile, Dunaev is being held in pretrial detention in Ohio after he was extradited from South Korea on US cybercrime charges.¹
• Although Peskov confirmed the two countries have had contact over the issue, he said, “We do not want to make them public. They must be followed and maintained in complete silence.”⁴
• The US and Russia previously completed a similar trade in December 2022, as Russia freed US basketball star Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.⁵

Sources: ¹NPR Online News, ²USA Today, ³Business Insider, ⁴CBS, and ⁵Guardian.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. While the US should try to secure the release of these prisoners, it must first work to stop Russia from consistently arresting Americans on trumped-up charges to force geopolitical confrontations. These prisoner swaps are never fair deals, as they lead to Russian criminals being put back on the street. Accepting them just plays into the Kremlin's hands.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by VOA. Despite Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine, the US has remained engaged with Russia to secure the release of Gershkovich and other prisoners. Although it’s unfortunate the US might have to trade actual criminals for people being held on false charges — as in the Griner case — the US will do whatever it takes to bring Gershkovich home.