Russia has just released American journalist Evan grovich and Paul wheen a fellow American who’s a security contractor from Michigan this was part of an enormous prisoner swap that involved Russia the United States and other countries their brutal or deal is over and they’re free earlier today they’re flown to Turkey and soon there’ll be wheels up on their way home to see their families Evan gershkovich is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal he was arrested in 20 23 on Espionage charges that the Wall Street Journal in the United States government say are entirely fabricated there had been momentum and signs that a deal was in the works because gers kovic’s trial was sped up he was recently convicted and sentenced to prison that was considered a real indication that something was a foot given that such trials normally can take a long time