US journalist Gershkovich among 26 freed in Russia prisoner deal with West

A major international prisoner swap has taken place, involving 26 prisoners from seven countries, including the United States, Russia, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, Poland, and Turkey. The swap is one of the biggest East-West prisoner exchanges since the Cold War. The deal involves the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed in Russia on espionage charges he and the US deny, and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was also being held in Russia on similar charges. The US has argued that both men were being wrongfully detained. In return, the West released Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian assassin. The swap was mediated by Turkey and took place at an airport in Ankara, Turkey. The deal has been hailed as a "feat of diplomacy" by US President Joe Biden, who has vowed to continue working to free other Americans who are being held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world. The Kremlin has declined to comment on the exchange.