A Kremlin spokesman confirmed Tuesday that Russia is in contact with the United States over possible plans to conduct a prisoner swap, likely for detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracey met with Gershkovich, 32, at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow, a facility known for harsh conditions, where the reporter awaits trial. Gershkovich has been jailed since March, when he was detained on a reporting trip by the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) and accused of espionage. In a daily briefing on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether the two meetings heralded a potential prisoner swap. “They must be carried out and continue in complete silence.”There have been hints over the past few months that Russia is considering a prisoner swap, though officials have insisted that a swap could only happen after a verdict is reached in Gershkovich’s trial.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 04, 2023 18:46 UTC