Who is Evan Gershkovich? Meet WSJ journalist finally freed by Russia

A multi-country prisoner exchange in Turkey on Thursday resulted in the release of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia in March 2023, along with at least one other American and a prominent Russian dissident, according to Turkish officials. This marks one of the most significant swaps between Russia and the West in decades.

The exchange occurred at an airport in Ankara, Turkey, involving 24 individuals who had been imprisoned across seven different countries, as reported by an official. Among those freed by Russia were Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested in 2018, and Russian dissident Ilya Yashin. The West, in return, released Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian assassin.


Son of Immigrants

Evan Gershkovich is a 32-year-old American journalist who was working as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He was arrested in Russia in March 2023 while on assignment in Yekaterinburg, about 900 miles east of Moscow. Gershkovich was accused of espionage, making him the first U.S. journalist charged with spying in Russia since the Cold War. Despite widespread international condemnation of his arrest, including from the Wall Street Journal, the White House, and other global leaders, Russia claimed without evidence that he was caught with classified materials.

Gershkovich was held in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison, a facility known for its harsh conditions and history of imprisoning Soviet dissidents. He spent over a year in the prison, confined to a cell for 23 hours a day, enduring the isolation and oppressive environment designed to break spirits. Throughout his time in custody, Gershkovich showed remarkable resilience, often smiling or laughing for the cameras in court and even making a heart shape with his hands to signal his strength and spirit.

Love of Russian Culture
Born to Russian immigrant parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, who fled the Soviet Union in the late 1970s and settled in New Jersey, Evan grew up immersed in Russian culture. He spoke the language at home, followed Russian customs, and was known for his curiosity and extroverted nature. He attended Princeton High School and later studied philosophy and English at Bowdoin College in Maine.

Gershkovich’s career in journalism began with a position as a news assistant at the New York Times before he moved to the Moscow Times. His deep connection to Russia, stemming from childhood visits and his fluency in the language, gave him a unique perspective on the country. He adopted the Russian name "Vanya" and formed close friendships with other journalists and expatriates in Russia.

In early 2022, just weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gershkovich achieved his dream job as a Russia reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Based in London due to the war, he frequently travelled to Russia to cover critical issues, including Vladimir Putin’s wartime decisions and the impact of the conflict on Russian society.