After more than a year in a hellish Russian prison, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich finally arrived on U.S. soil late Thursday night, becoming the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges since the Cold War.
The 32-year-old journalist landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland along with freed hostages Paul Whelan and Arus Kurmasheva.
The three were among 24 prisoners from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Russia and Belarus who were released as part of the largest exchange since the Cold War.
The same day, the U.S. government released a photograph of Gershkovich smiling and holding the flag alongside Russian-American journalist Kurmasheva and former Marine Whelan.
Not pictured is Vladimir Kara-Murza, a permanent U.S. resident and opposition politician who was also released.
In an earlier statement, Gershkovich’s family said they couldn’t wait to give their loved one the “biggest hugs.”
“We have waited 491 days for Evan’s release. Words cannot describe how we feel today. We can’t wait to give him the biggest hugs and see his kind, brave smile up close,” the family said. According to the Wall Street Journal.
“Our most important thing right now is caring for Evan and being together again. We share our relief and joy today with Paul and Ars’ families because no family should have to go through this.”
Gershkovich was arrested last year and accused of espionage on March 29, 2023, during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, a charge that the United States and The Wall Street Journal have strongly denied as trumped-up.
He was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison in a closed trial that was widely criticized by international leaders.
He spent about 16 months in prison before being exchanged and subsequently released.
