Going into 2024, Evan Gershkovich’s future seemed something however sure. All of the Wall Road Journal reporter and his allies noticed was indefinite detention on the mercy of a repressive regime utilizing him as a high-stakes bargaining chip.
However a 12 months later, Gershkovich is residence along with his household and even reporting once more. The nightmarish ordeal, which started in March 2023 when the reporter was arrested in Yekaterinburg and falsely accused of espionage, got here to an finish in August after a posh prisoner swap introduced him, ex-Marine Paul Whelan and others held in Russia residence for good.
Gershkovich, now 33, has saved a low profile since returning to the U.S., the place he was greeted by his household, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However as he put it, he “by no means stopped reporting” even whereas languishing in a infamous Moscow jail for greater than a 12 months.
Earlier this month, his identify appeared in a byline on a WSJ story in regards to the secret Kremlin spy unit behind his arrest, which was used as a bargaining instrument for the eventual launch of Russian hit man Vadim Krasikov, amongst others. The deeply reported story delved into the shadowy Russian Division for Counterintelligence Operations and the way it orchestrated his incarceration, which lasted 490 days.
Evan Gershkovich, adopted by his mom Ella Milman, smiles as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 1, 2024. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP through Getty Photos)
WALL STREET JOURNAL’S EVAN GERSHKOVICH REVEALS SHADOWY KREMLIN FIGURE BEHIND IMPRISONMENT IN RUSSIA
“It is an absolute delight to publish Evan’s byline once more,” Wall Road Journal editor Emma Tucker informed Fox Information Digital. “Now we have all missed his excellent reporting and the distinctive insights that he brings to the Journal’s protection.”
Gershkovich’s associates on the Journal and throughout the media trade ceaselessly labored to maintain his plight within the public’s consciousness. The Biden administration swiftly labeled him “wrongfully detained” after his arrest and the president talked about each Gershkovich and Whelan at his 2024 State of the Union handle, calling for his or her return residence. Because it turned out, whereas Biden was contemplating dropping out of the presidential race in July, he was on the similar time negotiating the deal that will quickly after deliver the boys residence.
Gershkovich himself grew to become an emblem of each the human spirit and the implications of Russia’s chilling suppression of journalism and dissidents underneath autocratic chief Vladimir Putin.Â
Throughout his incarceration, he by no means appeared to flag in demeanor, staying upbeat in response to family and friends, writing letters, and monitoring others’ birthdays. He even performed a slow-motion, by-mail recreation of chess along with his father, who, like his mom, immigrated to the U.S. from the Soviet Union.
That did not make issues any more easy for his family members, who celebrated the vacations with empty chairs to mark their lacking buddy, somebody who simply wished to be a reporter who had been made right into a political pawn. Gershkovich lengthy nursed a fascination with Russia and embraced reporting on the nation regardless of the inherent risks. “Journalism shouldn’t be a criminal offense” grew to become the rallying cry, however in Russia, apparently it was.
Evan Gershkovich reacts after disembarking from a airplane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., August 1, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE PRISONER SWAP TO FREE WSJ REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH FROM RUSSIAN PRISON
“It’s been a nightmare for us. One 12 months is such an extended interval that Evan has been in jail,” his shut buddy Pjotr Sauer, a reporter at The Guardian, informed Fox Information Digital in March as he hit his anniversary of imprisonment. “Everyone knows these prices are fully bogus and we hope the White Home will do all the pieces it may possibly.”
After having his pre-trial detainment repeatedly prolonged, Gershkovich was lastly convicted in July and given a 16-year sentence in a penal colony. This was anticipated and really seen as a approach to doubtlessly get issues transferring on a prisoner alternate.
Then the information lastly got here out of nowhere on Aug. 1: a deal had been struck, and Gershkovich was lastly coming residence.
Russia and Belarus launched 16 prisoners within the swap for eight Russians being held within the West. Among the many prisoners Russia launched have been 4 People, together with Gershkovich and Whelan. Alsu Kurmasheva, one other American citizen, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a inexperienced card holder, have been additionally freed.
JOURNALISM COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND RELEASE OF WSJ’S EVAN GERSHKOVICH: ‘CHAMPAGNE POPPING IN THE NEWSROOM’
“Their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free,” Biden mentioned, simply 11 days after his beautiful withdrawal from the 2024 Democratic nomination.
Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich got here residence this 12 months after practically 500 days of imprisonment on doubtful spying prices in Russia. (ALEXANDER NEMENOV / Contributor)
It was trigger for celebration, and even these within the media trade who had by no means met Gershkovich exulted in his launch. Staffers popped champagne within the Wall Road Journal newsroom. Assistant editor Paul Beckett, who was tasked by the Journal to work to safe Gershkovich’s launch in any means attainable, wrote, “We rejoice along with his great household and all of the households reunited right now.”
“How does it really feel to lastly be residence?” a reporter requested Gershkovich the evening he returned at Joint Base Andrews.
He smiled and mentioned, “It isn’t unhealthy.”
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Ever the journalist, Gershkovich had one thing to ask Putin whereas filling out a mandated official request for presidential clemency earlier than his launch.
Would he be accessible for an interview?Â
