The historic prisoner swap that led to the release of US journalist Evan Gershkovich and 15 others was enabled by a personal promise made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to US President Joe Biden during a White House visit. Despite initial uncertainties, the plan ultimately succeeded, culminating in the swap on Thursday.
During his visit on February 9, Biden requested Scholz to release Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian killer serving a life sentence in Germany, as part of a complex arrangement involving six countries. Scholz was initially hesitant, as Krasikov had murdered a Chechen separatist in broad daylight in Berlin’s Tiergarten park in 2019, allegedly under the direct orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Scholz, valuing his close relationship with Biden, eventually agreed to the exchange.
“It was two guys actually trying to figure out a solution,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Thursday after the deal was revealed. “That was the nature of all of the conversations, and ultimately, the chancellor was able to say to the president, ‘Let’s do this.’”
Scholz’s agreement was predicated on the inclusion of Russian activist Alexey Navalny in the swap. However, Navalny died in Russian custody on February 16, casting doubts over the deal’s viability.
At the time of Navalny’s death, Sullivan was meeting with Gershkovich’s parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich. Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was detained in Russia on espionage charges, which he and the Journal denied. The national security team was concerned that Navalny’s death might jeopardize their efforts to secure the release of Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned in Russia. Despite these concerns, Sullivan reassured Gershkovich’s parents that there was still a path forward.
Putin later emphasized in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that any deal would depend on Krasikov’s release. “We have certain conditions that are being discussed through channels between special services,” Putin said. “I believe an agreement can be reached.”
The successful prisoner swap underscores the intricate and high-stakes nature of international diplomacy and the personal commitments that can drive such negotiations to fruition.
