Russia has said silence is paramount when discussing prison swap talks that could include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, whose detention this week reaches the one-year mark.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that “certain contacts” would take place when a possible prisoner exchange was mentioned, but it would have to take place behind closed doors.
“We have repeatedly emphasized that there will be some contact regarding exchange issues, but it must be carried out absolutely silently,” Peskov said. According to Reuters.
Gershkovych has been detained for nearly a year since his arrest in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023. His detention was extended on Tuesday until June 30.
Asked Thursday whether there would be a prisoner exchange for Gershković and when the court would hear his case, Peskov said: “We do not have information about the court. It is not our prerogative.” Ta.
Gershkovitch, an American citizen, was charged with collecting Russian military state secrets for the American government. His employer, the United States and press freedom groups consider Mr. Gershković to have been unfairly detained.
The Biden administration is working on a prisoner exchange agreement, but no final agreement has yet been reached.
His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovic, attended President Biden’s State of the Union address in early March.
Russia has also held former Marine Paul Whelan since 2018 and is still holding Russian-American journalist Ars Kurmasheva, who works for Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
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