Staff Reports
Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and former Marine Paul Whelan are reportedly set for a grand exit from Russian prisons as part of a high-stakes prisoner swap involving the United States and Germany. This news seems to arrive just in time to help distract from a myriad of other pressing issues—and no one wants to miss a chance to trade a couple of American pawns for some shady Russian pieces.
Gershkovich found himself in hot water in Russia last year, where he was sentenced to an astounding 16 years in prison on espionage charges that both he and the U.S. government have denied vehemently. It seems like journalists, among other things, are just the latest commodity in the inventory of international bargaining chips. President Biden, after Gershkovich’s sentence, asserted that the journalist was a target solely because of his nationality and profession, claiming he was unjustly detained. Apparently, “journalism isn’t a crime” is the new rallying cry from the administration, even as it plays into the hands of despotic regimes.
Very heartening to hear US captives in Russia — Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Gordon Black – are released. They were bargaining chips for Moscow but yet to see what the Kremlin got in return. Putin traded a notorious arms dealer and a convicted hitman for Brittney Griner.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 1, 2024
President Biden has made it crystal clear that the release of Gershkovich and Whelan has been a top priority since day one of his administration. Whether pushing for their freedom was more about their well-being or a political maneuver can be debated. After all, this isn’t the first time the administration has been tested on the international stage, nor will it be the last. Given the history of high-profile swaps—including former basketball player Brittney Griner landing freedom while an arms dealer traded hands—one has to wonder what shabby deals are on the table this time around.
Meanwhile, Whelan has been rotting in a Russian prison since 2018, also slapped with a 16-year sentence on espionage charges that he and U.S. officials contest sharply. One can only imagine the horror of being stuck behind bars in a foreign land while the U.S. plays geopolitical chess. Comparing the gravity of their situations, it’s clear that America’s foreign policy is more concerned about optics than ensuring safe returns for every American abroad. After all, negotiating with Russia has always been a dicey affair, similar to bargaining with a fox over which hen to leave alone.
While the anticipation builds for this alleged swap, one can’t help but smirk at the irony. The Kremlin has played this game before and often leaves its negotiating partners wondering what exactly they’ll get in return. The last time the U.S. made a notable trade with Russia for hostages, it involved a notorious arms dealer and a convicted hitman—talk about making a deal with the devil. Providing leverage to regimes like Russia hardly sends a strong message about American resolve, especially when the roads to freedom seem paved with dubious exchanges and backdoor dealings.
The swap may involve as many as 30 prisoners, the details of which remain shrouded in secrecy. Americans are left to ponder the true nature of these negotiations. Fans of justice and accountability are left wondering: what’s next? Another headline involving a “wrongfully detained” American, or perhaps a more sensational story about a citizen being offered up in yet another elaborate trade? As the drama unfolds, the stakes are high, and the cloak-and-dagger tactics of foreign diplomacy remain as perplexing as ever.
