Tucker Carlson repeatedly pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider releasing imprisoned people. wall street journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich received a negative response in an interview published Thursday.
President Putin told Carlson that it was possible for Gershkovych to return to the United States one day if Russia and the United States brokered an agreement. Carlson countered, arguing: WSJ The journalist said he was “clearly not a spy” and suggested it would be “unfair to ask for someone else” to replace Gershkovic.
“I would like to ask you directly, as a sign of your decency, would you be willing to release me?” [Gershkovich] Then we’ll bring him back to the United States,” Carlson asked. Putin replied, “We’ve done so many good acts of common sense that I think we’ve run out.”
See below (timecode — 01:51:06):
Episode 73 Interview with President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/67YuZRkfLL
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 8, 2024
“I have never seen anyone reciprocate us in the same way,” Putin added, adding, “I do not exclude the possibility that if our partners take reciprocal measures, we will do the same.” ” he added.
“Special forces are in contact with each other,” Putin added. “They are talking about the matter in question. There is no taboo in resolving this issue. We intend to resolve it, but there are certain conditions that are being discussed in special service channels. I believe we can reach it.”
Karlsson responded that while countries have been capturing spies and replacing them with their own spies held in other countries for years, Gershkovic’s case “is clearly not a spy. He pointed out that the situation was different.
“Things like this have been happening for centuries,” Carlson said. “When one country captures another spy within its borders, it exchanges it for its own agent in another country. What’s different about this is that [Gershkovich] Obviously not a spy. ”
“Maybe he was breaking the law in some way, but he’s not a super spy and we all know that,” Carlson added. “In exchange he’s being held hostage — it’s true, with all due respect, it’s true and everyone knows it’s true — so maybe he’s in a different category. Will it come in?”
Karlsson suggested to Putin that “it might not be fair to ask for someone else in exchange for your release,” adding, “Perhaps it would be degrading to Russia to do that.” Dew,” he added.
In response, President Putin said, “There are many different interpretations of what constitutes a spy,” adding, “If someone obtains classified information and does it in a conspiratorial way, this falls under the category of espionage.” ” he said.
“And that’s exactly what he was doing. He was receiving classified information and did it secretly,” Putin claimed.
“Perhaps he did it inadvertently,” Putin conceded, but insisted that even if it were true, obtaining the information Mr. Gershkovych had received amounted to “espionage.”
President Putin claimed that he was caught red-handed while secretly obtaining confidential information.
Is Carlson suggesting to Putin that Gershkovych was “working for the US government or NATO” or was he “just a reporter who was given material he shouldn’t have”? He asked whether those two situations were true, and claimed that those two situations “seem to be true.” It seems like something completely different. ”
President Putin responded again by asserting: wall street journal The reporter was engaged in “espionage,” but then began talking about Russian “patriots” who are “allies of the United States” and are currently prisoners of war.
President Putin said that prisoners of war who harbor “patriotic feelings” toward Russia were “made to lie on the road and have cars run over their heads.” He explained that this was because he had “eliminated” the person.
Carlson pushed back, saying, “Yeah, but Evan Gershkovic didn’t do that.”
“I mean, that’s totally different. He’s a 32-year-old newspaper reporter,” Carlson added.
Putin acknowledged that Gershkovych had “done something different” but insisted that “he is not just a journalist.”
“I repeat that he is a journalist who received top secret information,” Putin said. “Yes, it’s different, but still.”
The Russian president went on to claim that “dialogue is continuing between the special agencies,” adding: “They are in touch, so let them do their job.”
“We do not exclude the possibility that Mr. Gershkovych, whom you mentioned, will return to his homeland,” Putin added. “After all, it makes no sense to keep him in prison in Russia.”
“I would like you to think about how American special forces can contribute to achieving the goals that our special forces are considering,” Putin said. “We are ready to talk. Moreover, negotiations are progressing.”
“There are many examples of such talks ending in success. Perhaps this one too will be crowned a success. But we need to reach an agreement,” Putin added, adding that Karlsson said: “We need to release him. I want you to do that,” he replied.
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