MOSCOW, Aug. 2 Correspondent Evan Gershkovich asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for an interview in an official pardon petition before the exchange, The Wall Street Journal reports.
“In the formal Russian he honed during his 16 months in prison, Gershkovich filled out a page. The last line included his own suggestion: Would Putin be willing to give an interview after his release?” the article says.
The day before, the FSB reported that eight Russians detained and imprisoned in NATO countries had been returned to Russia. In particular, this concerned Vadim Sokolov (Krasikov), who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany, as well as Vladislav Klyushin, who was imprisoned in the United States. Artem and Anna Dultsev, Pavel Rubtsov, Vadim Konoshchenko, Mikhail Mikushin, and Roman Seleznev also returned to Russia. The Russians who returned to their homeland were accused of collaborating with Moscow's intelligence agencies, but in a number of cases, as a reliable source in one of the Russian competent agencies reported, their guilt was not proven. All Russians pleaded not guilty during court hearings and while serving their sentences.
In turn, several citizens convicted of espionage and Russians with dual citizenship left Russia during the exchange. Their guilt was fully proven, they were convicted, among other things, under articles on treason and public calls for extremist activity. As a source in the Russian competent agency noted, the foreign side showed interest in the Russians, who were presented in the West as the opposition. According to him, such attention to them is understandable and explainable, they were in contact with curators from Western intelligence services, worked for opponents.
As part of the exchange, three American citizens returned to the United States — Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, as well as the holder of a residence permit in the United States Vladimir Kara-Murza*. President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on pardoning the citizens exchanged from Russia, among whom, in particular, were Whelan and Gershkovich. As reported on the Kremlin website, the decision to sign the decrees was made by the return of Russians detained and imprisoned in foreign countries.
* An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent in Russia.