Donald Trump has reiterated his assertion that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, currently detained in Russia on espionage charges, will be released if Trump wins the upcoming presidential election. Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg in 2023 and has since been awaiting trial.
In a recent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized President Joe Biden for Gershkovich’s continued detention, suggesting that Biden’s administration would likely have to pay a substantial amount to secure his release. Trump contrasted this with his own administration’s record, claiming he secured the release of hostages from various countries for “next to nothing.”
Trump also commented on the relationship between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, implying that Putin’s lack of respect for Biden has negatively impacted Gershkovich’s case. “Putin has no respect for Biden – and that’s the way it goes!!!” Trump stated. He promised Gershkovich, “Fear not, Evan, I will get you home soon, and you will be safe while there!!!”
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Despite these claims, the specifics of how Trump would expedite Gershkovich’s release remain unclear. While Putin has previously shown openness to a potential prisoner swap, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov recently noted that the topic requires discretion and indicated that little progress has been made.
Gershkovich was briefly seen by reporters at a recent court appearance, where officials announced that the next hearing would be on August 13. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. The Wall Street Journal has condemned the trial as “shameful and illegitimate,” demanding Gershkovich’s immediate release and highlighting the serious impact of his detention on press freedom.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, making him the first American journalist detained on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. The U.S. State Department has officially designated him as wrongfully detained.
