Top US negotiator vows to return Gershkovich, Whelan from Russia
Tags: prisoner swap, Roger Carstens, Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal, John Kirby, United States, Paul Whelan, State Department, Brittney Griner, Russia
AMERICA’S TOP NEGOTIATOR HAS MADE A BOLD PROMISE.
NOT ONLY WILL THE U-S BRING HOME THE RECENTLY-DETAINED WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH — BUT PAUL WHELAN AS WELL.
THE FORMER WAS DETAINED IN RUSSIA TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE ON A REPORTING TRIP.
RUSSIA HAS ACCUSED HIM OF ESPIONAGE — BUT THE U-S SAYS HE IS BEING WRONGFULLY DETAINED.
GERSHKOVICH HAS YET TO BE VISITED BY U-S EMBASSY OFFICIALS — AS THE U-S STRUGGLES TO GAIN CONSULAR ACCESS FROM RUSSIA.
“That’s a great question for Russian officials. It’s not for lack of trying. I can assure you that. The State Department’s been trying to get consular access to him ever since the moment we found out that he was detained.”
ROGER CARSTENS IS THE SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR HOSTAGE AFFAIRS.
IN A SERIES OF TELEVISION INTERVIEWS WEDNESDAY — CARSTENS SAID THE U-S WAS CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR ACCESS — AND THAT THE U-S IS OWED AS MUCH UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW.
CARSTENS ALSO DISCUSSED WHELAN — WHO HAS BEEN DETAINED IN RUSSIA SINCE 20-18 ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES.
HE NOTABLY WAS NOT A PART OF LAST YEAR’S PRISONER SWAP THAT BROUGHT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STAR BRITTNEY GRINER BACK TO THE U-S FROM RUSSIA.
CARSTENS SAID HE SPOKE WITH WHELAN EARLIER THIS WEEK — AND THAT THE U-S HAS QUOTE “A SIGNIFICANT OFFER ON THE TABLE” — END QUOTE — TO BRING WHELAN HOME.