On a plea for clemency

US journalist left Putin a spicy message

The empty space at the end of the petition for clemency is usually left blank, but not this time.(Bild: AP/Eric Gay)

The prisoner exchange between Western countries and Russia will go down in the history books. The release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich in particular caused a stir. According to reports, he left Vladimir Putin a piquant message in his plea for clemency.

"It's a wonderful feeling," said US President Joe Biden at the reception for his released compatriots at Joint Base Andrews, not far from the capital Washington. "I was absolutely convinced that we could do this." Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hugged "Wall Street Journal" correspondent Evan Gershkovich, convicted of espionage, and former US soldier Paul Whelan after exiting the plane.

Last line not left blank as expected
According to the Wall Street Journal, however, 32-year-old Gershkovich did not simply fly out of Russia. Still in prison, he had to fill out an official petition for clemency to President Putin. The form also contained an empty field for his own comments.

The empty field at the end of the petition for clemency is usually left blank - but not this time.(Bild: AP/Eric Gay)

He was a journalist in Russia, was defamed as a spy and imprisoned: Nevertheless, Gershkovich could not resist one last question to the Kremlin boss.(Bild: AP/Eric Gay)

Gershkovich did not leave it blank as expected, but filled it in "in the formal High Russian he had acquired in 16 months of imprisonment". In the last line, he then made a suggestion to Putin: would he be willing to sit down for an interview after Gershkovich's release? Nothing is known about the Russian president's response.

Journalist arbitrarily detained
The Russia correspondent was arrested by the Russian secret service FSB in March 2023 while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in the Urals. In mid-July, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a controversial trial for alleged espionage. The "Wall Street Journal" rejected the accusations against Gershkovich. The US government demanded his release for months.

Unprecedented operation frees prominent prisoners
On Thursday, Russia, Belarus and several Western countries exchanged a total of 26 prisoners at Ankara airport in an unprecedented operation involving the Turkish secret service MIT.

In return for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the USA and partner countries released a convicted murderer and prisoners suspected of espionage from Russia. Gershkovich, former US soldier Paul Whelan and US journalist Alsu Kurmasheva arrived in the USA on Friday night. Earlier, 13 people had already landed in Cologne.