American journalist Evan Gershkovich could be released as part of a prisoner exchange, Russian media say.
The Wall Street Journal journalist could be among 20 to 30 political prisoners exchanged with the nation, according to the Moscow weather.
The deal is said to involve both the United States and Germany, with one source telling the Russian outlet that the swap could be “imminent.”
This comes amid speculation within Russia that a high-risk prisoner swap is in the works after high-profile prisoners were taken from their prisons and moved to an undisclosed location.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich could be released as part of a prisoner exchange
According to the Russian outlet, other prisoners who could be part of the deal include people linked to Alexei Navalny, the political opponent of Vladimir Putin who was found dead in a prison camp in February.
If reports that up to 30 prisoners were exchanged are true, it would be the largest prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia since the end of the Cold War.
According to the anonymous source, Russian authorities have made “great efforts to keep information inside Russia as secret as possible until the last moment.”
The developments occurred as recently as Wednesday, when Kremlin military planes reportedly flew into isolated regions of Russia where political prisoners are being held.
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