Russia on Thursday (August 1) released incarcerated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the United States, Bloomberg reported while citing people familiar with the situation.&nbsp;

The men were&nbsp;jailed in Russia on espionage charges that they and the US deny.

The prisoners were flown to Turkey's capital Ankara from Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus under the complex deal, the Turkish presidency said.

"Eight Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in a series of NATO countries, were returned home," Russia's state-run news agencies quoted the FSB as saying in a statement.

It added: "The Russians were exchanged for a group of people who were acting in the interests of foreign states to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-evan-gershkovich-the-us-journalist-arrested-in-russia-for-espionage-577732">Who is Evan Gershkovich, the US journalist arrested in Russia for espionage</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Russia prisoner exchange: West's side of bargain</h2>

Under the deal, the US and its allies returned prisoners to Russia that they hold, the Bloomberg report added while citing people familiar with the matter. The Kremlin released the dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza as part of the agreement.

An activist with dual Russian-British citizenship, Kara-Murza, 42, campaigned against Vladimir Putin's rule and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in April last year on treason charges.

For months, Washington and other Western capitals were negotiating with Moscow for the release of Gershkovich and Whelan. Both of them have been designated as wrongly detained by the US State Department.

In total, 10 Russians — including two minors — were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians imprisoned in Russia, according to a statement released by the Turkish presidency.

This was the first exchange between Russia and the West since star US basketball player Brittney Griner returned home in return for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Thursday (August 1) released incarcerated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the United States, Bloomberg reported while citing people familiar with the situation.

Russia on Thursday (August 1) released incarcerated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the United States, Bloomberg reported while citing people familiar with the situation. The men were jailed in Russia on espionage charges that they and the US deny. The prisoners were flown to Turkey's capital Ankara from Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus under the complex deal, the Turkish presidency said. "Eight Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in a series of NATO countries, were returned home," Russia's state-run news agencies quoted the FSB as saying in a statement. It added: "The Russians were exchanged for a group of people who were acting in the interests of foreign states to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation." Also read | Who is Evan Gershkovich, the US journalist arrested in Russia for espionage Russia prisoner exchange: West's side of bargain Under the deal, the US and its allies returned prisoners to Russia that they hold, the Bloomberg report added while citing people familiar with the matter. The Kremlin released the dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza as part of the agreement. An activist with dual Russian-British citizenship, Kara-Murza, 42, campaigned against Vladimir Putin's rule and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in April last year on treason charges. For months, Washington and other Western capitals were negotiating with Moscow for the release of Gershkovich and Whelan. Both of them have been designated as wrongly detained by the US State Department. In total, 10 Russians — including two minors — were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians imprisoned in Russia, according to a statement released by the Turkish presidency. This was the first exchange between Russia and the West since star US basketball player Brittney Griner returned home in return for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia releases US journalist Evan Gershkovich, ex-marine Paul Whelan in biggest prisoner swap since Cold War

A Russian court on June 15 sentenced ex-US marine Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison in an espionage case. The trial was held behind closed doors since Whelan was accused of gathering state secrets, however, he called it a "sham trial" and asked for US President Donald Trump's intervention.

Russia: Paul Whelan sentenced on spying charges

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Russia releases US journalist Evan Gershkovich, ex-marine Paul Whelan in biggest prisoner swap since Cold War

Russia: Paul Whelan sentenced on spying charges