Biden says he’s “serious” about prisoner exchange to free detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich – By Caitlin Yilek (CBS News) / July 13, 2023
Washington — President Biden said he’s “serious” about securing the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is detained in Russia, through a prisoner swap.
“I’m serious about a prisoner exchange,” Mr. Biden said Thursday during a news conference in Helsinki, Finland. “I’m serious about doing all we can to free Americans being illegally held in Russia or anywhere else for that matter, and that process is underway.”
The U.S. has designated Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on espionage charges, as “wrongfully detained.” Russia has not provided any evidence to support the charges, which Gershkovich and his employer have vehemently denied.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top spokesman said in early July that there had been contact between the U.S. and Russia about a possible prisoner swap that could involve Gershkovich. But he said any negotiations should not be made public.
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