Kremlin open to exchange talks for WSJ’s Gershkovich

The Kremlin has suggested it could be open to a possible prisoner exchange involving jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, according to a story in The Guardian.

The Guardian reports, “Asked whether Monday’s consular visits to Gershkovich, who has been held behind bars in Moscow since March on charges of espionage, and Vladimir Dunaev, a Russian citizen in US custody on cybercrime charges, could potentially herald a prisoner swap, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow and Washington had touched on the issue.

“‘We have said that there have been certain contacts on the subject, but we don’t want them to be discussed in public,’ Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. ‘They must be carried out and continue in complete silence.’

“He didn’t offer any further details, but added that ‘the lawful right to consular contacts must be ensured on both sides.'”

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