Evan Gershkovich set to be released by Russia in prisoner swap

The Russian-British activist and journalist, who is Jewish, has been in prison since April 2023.

A group of British MPs have been lobbying the UK government to attempt to secure his release, The Telegraph reported.

“The US has had Kara-Murza on their radar, but there are no guarantees,” said one parliamentarian. “The Russians are renowned for driving a very hard bargain.”

Last month, Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony after being detained on suspicion of spying in March 2023 during a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,600km east of Moscow.

Born in America to Russian Jewish parents, the 32-year-old journalist had lived in Russia for six years prior to his arrest.

The Wall Street Journal, his employer, and the US government have repeatedly denied the charges of espionage put against Gershkovich, for which he pleaded not guilty.

“Russian authorities have failed to provide any evidence supporting the charges against him, failed to justify his continued detention, and failed to explain why Evan’s work as a journalist constitutes a crime,” the US embassy in Moscow said.

Last year, Jews across America sent Rosh Hashanah cards to the imprisoned reporter.

“We are deeply concerned for Evan’s wellbeing,” Eric Fingerhut, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, said at the time.

“As Jews around the world will be gathering with loved ones during Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important acts we can do as a collective community is to let him know that we are thinking of him and standing with him in solidarity.”

President Joe Biden meanwhile insisted that he was working “every day” to secure Gershkovich’s release.

Addressing his family, he said: "We all stand with you. Evan went to Russia to shed light on the darkness that you all escaped from, years ago.

“Absolute courage … to the entire family, everyone in this hall stands with you.”