Russia Proposes Prisoner Swap of Jailed Americans for Russians
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Russian President Putin said Russia is in talks with the U.S. to exchange jailed Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich for Russians held in the U.S.
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Whelan, a corporate security executive, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on disputed espionage charges.
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Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was detained in March 2022 while reporting in Russia and accused of espionage.
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Gershkovich has been in jail since March, with his detention extended until end of January 2023. He denies the allegations.
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Analysts say Russia may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips amid tensions over Ukraine.