The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan are headed out of rf. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. citizens were released in a prisoner exchange, UNN reports.
Details
Jailed in russia on espionage charges, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Hershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan have been released as part of a major prisoner exchange involving the United States.
Synopsis
Gershkovich and Whelan each received 16 years in prison in Russia. The first was accused of collecting information about the activities of Uralvagonzavod. The second was accused of allegedly trying to obtain information about FSB cadets.
The U.S. negotiated extensively to secure the release of two citizens - Hershkovich and Whelan the U.S. State Department described as wrongly detained.
Supplement
Both are now en route to leave russia.
Further details of the exchange were not yet available.
Earlier WSJ reported that journalist Evan Hershkovich has been released and is returning to the United States