Evan Gershkovich: Waiting for her brother, Putin's 'bargaining chip' in Russian jail

Danielle Gershkovich received a call from her mother a year ago. The news was so unbelievable to her.

After being accused with espionage, her younger brother Evan, a Wall Street Journal writer, became the first American journalist in Russia since the end of the Cold War. 20 years in jail is the highest penalty that may be imposed.

Through a video conversation from Washington, Danielle tells me that this year has been quite challenging. "The uncertainty is very hard to deal with."

Composing letters is beneficial. The American journalist incarcerated has been sending out a lot of messages.

"The best way to support one another is to keep things light," adds Danielle. We love to tease each other and have a lot of sibling banter.

"I recently asked him if I may see the sequel to the Dune movie. Since he is unable to view it, I felt bad about witnessing it."

Yekaterinburg, a thousand miles away from Moscow, was where Evan's ordeal started. The Russian domestic security agency, the FSB, seized him when he was there on a journalistic assignment. According to Russian officials, the American was in possession of "classified information" and was "caught red-handed". He vehemently disputes the spying accusation, as does his company and the US government.
Evan is able to surprise his family while being imprisoned in a Russian penitentiary.
"He made arrangements for the ladies in his life to receive flowers on International ladies's Day. He was taking care of us there, and we want him to concentrate on himself. He provides for others in his life. We truly do miss him."
We have not seen Evan Gershkovich very much here in Moscow since his incarceration.

It's true that he has appeared in court many times in the past year. Occasionally, the media is granted access to film him.

For no more than sixty seconds.

That's just enough time for us to have a general idea of Evan's status.

Evan sees it as an opportunity to see some familiar faces.

But no media were allowed inside when Evan appeared in court this week. There was no justification provided. Rather, the American journalist was captured on camera by the Moscow City Courthouse and later made public, showing him standing in a glass cage inside the courtroom.

There were only six seconds in that video.

After the hearing, the court made the decision that Evan Gershkovich would remain in pretrial custody.

It's just pure, whole, and ridiculous rubbish. Evan isn't a spy. Emma Tucker, the Wall Street Journal's editor-in-chief, informs me that he is a journalist.

"People were already leery of reporting from Russia, just like a lot of reporters were a year ago. Reporters were starting to leave the news. 

In light of the conflict in Ukraine, he has been penning a number of fascinating studies on the situation of the Russian economy. He was creating pieces similar to this one."

The Lefortovo prison in Moscow is home to Evan Gershkovich. Constructed during the Tsarist era, the facility has housed several prominent Russian convicts throughout the years, such as dissidents and political prisoners. Torture and killing were frequent practices during Joseph Stalin's Great Terror. Former prisoners have described feeling completely alone, which is unsettling.

"He is in charge. One of the few individuals permitted to see Evan at Lefortovo, US ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy, states that he is in good health.

The importance of correspondence for him is one of the things that has truly impressed me. Writing to his loved ones, acquaintances, and complete strangers has given him a lot of energy. It helps him stay focused and provides him something to aim toward at the end of the day."

According to the US authorities, Evan Gershkovich was "wrongfully detained."

"The insinuation that he was somehow engaging in some kind of criminal activity is just flat-out false," says Ambassador Tracy. "The message is: release him now."

Last month, Vladimir Putin stated that he would "like him to go home eventually," in reference to Evan Gershkovich. I genuinely say this.

However, a "but" exists.

It's evident from Moscow's overt clues that what the Kremlin wants in exchange is something, or rather someone. Vadim Krasikov, an FSB security service member serving a life sentence in Germany for murder, is believed to be that someone.

The fact that the Russian government views Evan Gershkovich as a negotiating chip is something they seldom conceal.

Emma Tucker is of the opinion that it is quite evident that Evan was selected in order to be exchanged.

The term "hostage diplomacy" is frequently used to describe it, which I detest because there is nothing diplomatic about what is happening. Evan is held captive. He can be used as leverage. Putin is treating him like money. And that is the harsh truth of the situation. Governments find it quite challenging to know how to handle this. Since a great deal is at risk, including potential future events."

"Russia is stockpiling Americans in its jails in order to be able to trade them at a later date," Emma claims.

As an illustration. Washington and Moscow executed a prisoner swap in December 2022, exchanging convicted Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout for US basketball player Brittney Griner. Griner had been committed to a Russian penal colony due to the discovery of cannabis oil in her luggage.

Paul Whelan, a former marine, is one of the Americans incarcerated here at the moment. He was found guilty of spying in 2020 and given a 16-year prison term in a penal colony. Like with Evan Gershkovich, Mr. Whelan has been labeled as "wrongfully detained" by US officials.

Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free-Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), located in Prague, was detained in Russia last year. Ms. Kurmasheva is a Russian national with a US passport. She was traveling to see her sick mother in Russia for a brief stay.

Her failure to reveal her US citizenship resulted in an initial fine. However, the charges became increasingly grave. Now that she has contributed to the editing of a book that criticizes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she is accused of disseminating "false information" about the Russian military forces. Alsu Kurmasheva may spend up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.

According to her family and friends, the case against her is politically driven. They are demanding that she be labeled as "wrongfully detained" by the US authorities as well.

Families of those incarcerated share their experience.

Danielle Gershkovich tells me, "To me, this will always be about my brother, getting him home." "This man is innocent. His family and friends really miss him. Naturally, though, it also has to do with free speech and journalism. He is also needed by the planet."