Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan to be released from Russia
- Thread starter StormHawk42
- Start date
In exchange for Brittney Griner and Angel Reese?
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20 Russian spies is the price tag. It's an even worse trade than the merchant of death for Brittney griner deal. The biden/harris administration is very, very bad at negotiations.
Really good news. PSA to any American, Don’t visit Russia, They will be looking to acquire a couple of new Americans as replacements.
Great news for these guys and their families!
There needs to be a state department warning that any American entering Russia from here on out is on their own. Maybe there already is but no one should be going there including journalists and aid workers.
100%. Gershkovich thought he had a free pass working as an American journalist who spoke the language and was of Russian heritage.
NO ONE SHOULD BE IN RUSSIA.
It's great they're coming home.
Haven't seen any reporting on what Russia is getting in exchange.
Haven't seen any reporting on what Russia is getting in exchange.
According to Reuters these guys have been deleted from prisoner database. Sounds like Russia will be releasing some dissidents as well
Alexander Vinnik
Maxim Marchenko
Vadim Konoshchenok
Vladislav Klyushin
The trade deadline has passed so we have to wait to make sure they clear waivers.
Travel Advisories
travel.state.gov
Russia is listed as a top tier warning, Level 4, Do Not Travel.
To be fair I think Whelan probably went at a time when the travel advisory was lower. I think he has been held since before Ukraine was invaded.
Regardless I do think if the state department warns you not to travel to a country and you do it anyways we should not be willing to bend over backwards to get you released.
It’s simple, we value our people, and they do not. They know that. Which is why they keep snatching any Westerner foolish enough to step into that lawless territory known as Russia.
Agreed. Suck it putin and biff.
Huge news for the American families and our country.
There is IMO a higher moral reason to try to get him released especially if our travel warnings were lower back then.
I’m not 100% sure, but I think Russia was only elevated to Level 4 after they invaded Ukraine. Griner was arrested 7 days before the invasion. Not great timing. I think both current prisoners were there before Griner.
Sly post, but from what I just saw on TV you never call a deal done until hostages are released from Russia and on Western or neutral soil. Also, there might be a larger deal in the works.
If they didn't care why would they push for 20 of their citizens vs 15 only? To send a message that they know they can get whatever they ask for from these weaklings?
Honestly any country with a dictator in charge is an automatic level 4 for me. A lot of people take trips to China. Not me. They may not have engaged in unjust arrests of westerners yet, but that could change tomorrow. And seeing the great wall (which I would love to see) just isn't worth that.
I’m not really excited about this one unless Whelan can upgrade the bullpen as a middle reliever.
Whaddya know: Trump proven to be a lying piece of schidt again.
He wasn't worth a dozen Russian spies, good on Trump for recognizing the obvious. Just like griner wasn't worth an international arms dealer. This administration cannot negotiate because they have no actual strength.
Turkey confirms Gershkovich and Whelan were part of prisoner exchange
From CNN’s Gul Tuysuz in IstanbulWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan were part of the historic prisoner exchange today, according to the Turkish presidency.
German national Rico Krieger, imprisoned in Belarus, the Russian dissident Ilya Yashin, and FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov, jailed in Germany, were also part of the exchange, the presidency said.
Turkey says it established “dialogue channels” for historic prisoner exchange
From CNN’s Gul Tuysuz in IstanbulTurkey’s intelligence agency, The National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), established “dialogue channels” for the historic prisoner exchange, according to the Turkish presidency.
“The parties were brought together in Turkey in July 2024 with the organization of MİT, which effectively uses intelligence diplomacy,” it added. “Negotiations were held regarding the exchange activity to be carried out between Russian citizens and citizens of Western countries imprisoned in the USA, Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovenia, Russia and Belarus.”
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russian intel operative Vadim Krasikov, convicted of murder, is freed by Germany in prisoner swap, Turkish officials say.17 mins ago.
"the sources said. Krasikov was convicted in December of murdering a former Chechen fighter, Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison."
Some Germans are not happy about this.
I suspect that the German in Belarus who had his death penalty overturned is related to this also.
"the sources said. Krasikov was convicted in December of murdering a former Chechen fighter, Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison."
Some Germans are not happy about this.
I suspect that the German in Belarus who had his death penalty overturned is related to this also.
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1. Always good to get americans home.
2. Obviously people will debate the price, if the price is publicly known.
3. Having studied in the (then) USSR in 1985, I am always saddened by the thought that it is highly unlikely I'll ever go back and see it again in my lifetime. A culturally unique place.
BTW, take a look at Krasikov, who they traded for Whelan. That is one bad dude.
2. Obviously people will debate the price, if the price is publicly known.
3. Having studied in the (then) USSR in 1985, I am always saddened by the thought that it is highly unlikely I'll ever go back and see it again in my lifetime. A culturally unique place.
BTW, take a look at Krasikov, who they traded for Whelan. That is one bad dude.
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Can you link the exact terms of the deal? TIA.
it really would be nice to see that. Most of what i've seen so far suggests that, with the exception of a german mercenary held in belarus, and some kids being repatriated to russia with their spy parents, this is the usual "good guys for bad guys" type of deal. (At least, of course, if you believe that about our guys). And I gotta say, setting aside the numerical equivalencies, there are some pretty perverse incentives inherent in that type of exchange.
And a 2nd round draft pick plus a prisoner to be named later
Weren't you recently bitching that Griner got to come home before Whelan? What would you have done to bring our citizens home international negociator?
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They are on the plane and on the way home now. Just another GREAT JOB JOE.
