A Russian court has sentenced US citizens to 16 years in prison.
Russia has released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the US.
This was reported by Bloomberg, citing informed individuals who wished to remain anonymous.
Both Americans who were convicted in Russia on espionage charges are heading to destinations outside of Russia.
The US and its allies will return the prisoners they are holding to Russia. The names of the Russians being transferred during this exchange are not being released.
Gershkovich and Whelan were sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges.
Gershkovich, 32, was arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting assignment in the Ural city of Yekaterinburg and accused of spying for the CIA. He and the newspaper denied the charges.
Whelan was detained back in 2018, and in 2020 he was also sentenced on espionage charges, which he denied.
Recall that the arrest of the American journalist for The Wall Street Journal was personally sanctioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The reporter became the first US media representative to be arrested in Russia in 40 years.
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