EDITORIAL: Evan Gershkovich release from Russian prison a win for truth over tyranny

In our increasingly chaotic and darkening world, it’s rare to encounter moments of true jubilation, of victory of freedom over autocracy.

So we must celebrate them when they do arrive.

The release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after 16 months of unjust imprisonment in a Russian prison on bogus espionage charges is one of those moments.

Gershkovich is one of 16 journalists, pro-democracy activists and wrongfully detained Americans, whose liberty was secured in a prisoner swap co-ordinated in the dying days of the Biden administration.

It is a testament to President Joe Biden that he remained on task and dedicated to the negotiations which resulted in their release even as he was dealing with the public bombardment of questions over his mental fitness. It’s remarkable to learn that he was on the phone to international allies shoring up support for the deal just an hour before he announced he would not seek re-election in November.

Gershkovich, 32, is the son of Russian migrants to the US and had been sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony after his wrongful conviction in a secret sham trial.

There was no evidence ever made public to support the accusation of espionage against him. His true crime was to report honestly on the actions of Vladimir Putin’s murderous regime.

His arrest, along with the imprisonment of dozens of other reporters by Russia, shows that one of the greatest threats to autocratic, abusive regimes is fearless, honest journalism.

Gershkovich’s release follows a sustained campaign from media organisations around the globe to shine a light on his wrongful detention and to keep his story at the forefront of global consciousness. We are proud to have played a role in that campaign and have stood alongside other defenders of the free press and democracy.

And while we must take a moment to savour Gershkovich’s freedom, we must acknowledge there is a dark side to the prisoner swap.

The price paid for the release of the 16 prisoners was high.

In return, eight Russians held in the US, Germany and other Western nations were turned over to Moscow.

Among them, Vadim Krasikov, a hitman acting on orders from the Kremlin when he shot former Chechen fighter Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili dead in broad daylight in Berlin.

Also now free are money launderers, fraudsters, hackers and spies.

It sends a worrying message to Moscow and to other bad actors around the world, who may be tempted to pluck a few innocent Westerners from their places of work abroad, slap them with trumped-up charges and demand the release of killers and criminals in exchange for their freedom.

It’s a dilemma to which there are no clear answers.

But for now, the world should toast the homecoming of Gershkovich and those released alongside him and celebrate this moment of victory of truth over tyranny.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor Christopher Dore.