WSJ’s Evan Gershkovich’s family breaks their silence as journalist is FREED after 491 days in jail

THE family of innocent American journalist Evan Gershkovich has broken their silence in a statement following his release on Thursday.

Ella Milman, Mikhail Gershkovich and Danielle Gershkovich were forced to endure an agonising wait as the Wall Street Journal reporter faced an outrageous 16 years in jail after a sham trial in Putin’s Russia.

(R-L) Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan were snapped together with the American flag

Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich

AFP

Evan was arrested in Russia on bogus espionage charges in March 2023[/caption]

Evan was finally released today after 491 days inside the horrific Russian penal system – the same network of politically charged jails that killed Alexei Navalny.

His family has written of their relief in a statement celebrating their loved one’s release in a prisoner swap in Turkey.

They wrote: “We have waited 491 days for Evan’s release, and it’s hard to describe what today feels like.

“We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close.

“Most important now is taking care of Evan and being together again.

“No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsu’s families.

“We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Chancellor Scholz and every U.S. or foreign government official who helped get Evan released.

“Our family has felt so much love and support from Evan’s fellow journalists, his wonderful friends, and many, many people around the world. It made a difference to Evan and to us.

“And we especially thank Evan’s colleagues at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

“They have taken care of Evan and our entire family since the beginning, and we are forever grateful.”

A Russian government plane was seen at Ankara Airport in Turkey today where the journalist was one of dozens of political prisoners to be released.

The swap involved 23 other prisoners in Russian jails – including former US marine Paul Whelan and British-Russian journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza.

They were seen smiling with a US flag on Thursday night from Ankara.

Russia’s FSB published a video of the the US citizens being readied for the swap, likely from earlier this morning.

Today’s exchange is one of the largest and most complicated swaps between the West and Russia in history.

The US, Russia and Germany were all involved in the large scale operation following Evan’s arrest in March last year.

Newsrooms across the world, including at News Corp, have staged events and demonstrations demanding the innocent journalist be freed.