Expected releases follow series of mysterious movements of prominent Western prisoners in Russia
Image Courtesy of Bloomberg News
A high-profile prisoner swap between Russia and the West that may include jailed journalist Evan Gershkovich could take place today, according to reports.
The exchange, which could also see Kremlin assassins sent back to Russia, would be the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the US in over a decade.
Mr Gershkovich, who was sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges by a Russian court last month, could return to the US as early as Thursday, Bloomberg reported. The Kremlin and Washington have not confirmed the swap.
Jailed Briton Vladimir Kara-Murza could also be released as part of the deal, as well as former US Marine Paul Whelan who has been detained since 2018.
It comes after a series of mysterious movements of prominent Western prisoners prompted speculation that Vladimir Putin had agreed to swap them for Russians held in the West.
Flight tracking site Flightradar24 showed that a special Russian government plane used for a previous prisoner swap, involving the United States and Russia, had flown from Moscow to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
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Approved ~ MJM
