All posts tagged "Evan Gershkovich"

One of the requirements from the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was that he write a request for a pardon from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Thursday report dropped a bombshell that Gershkovich filled the page with comments and closed the letter with a request for an interview. Gershkovich had been in a Russian prison for nearly 500 days at that point on false charges that he was a spy.

"The pro forma printout included a long blank space the prisoner could fill out if desired, or simply, as expected, leave blank. In the formal high Russian he had honed over 16 months imprisonment, the Journal’s Russia correspondent filled the page. The last line submitted a proposal of his own: After his release, would Putin be willing to sit down for an interview?" the report said....

An emotional scene unfolded late Thursday as the families of three Russian prisoners greeted the trio, who arrived in a small plane following a historic prisoner swap with Russia.

President Joe Biden saluted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, as he walked up to the plane on the tarmac. He and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted Whelan first, who was serving a years-long sentence in Russia. Whelan embraced the vice president before hugging his sister as cheers erupted on the platform.

Gershkovich embraced Harris, then shook Biden's hand and hugged the president. Gershkovich then hugged his mother and lifted her off the ground before embracing others who came to greet him....

Only vague signs point to the possibility of piercing Donald Trump’s orange armor and political impunity.

Trump dispatched Nikki Haley, his last serious challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, in early March. But Haley fared better than expected in May’s Indiana primary, where she was still on the ballot if not in the race, possibly indicating softness in Trump’s support.

If Trump is convicted on any of the 88 felony charges he faces in four court cases, it could cost him his freedom — and support. An ABC/Ipsos poll said one-fifth of Trump voters would either reconsider or withdraw their support if he’s convicted of a felony. ...