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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with his Russian counterpart after the American basketball star Brittney Griner, who was detained for almost 10 months by Russia, urged the U.S. government to use “every tool possible” to secure Evan Gershkovi…
The Biden administration recently secured the release of two Americans convicted of criminal charges in Russia, but even fabricated charges of spying can raise the stakes.
Supporters say Paul Whelan is more hapless tourist than James Bond — and that the Russians know it. But that doesn’t make freeing him any easier.
He said he told her “I’m here to take you home” when they met in Abu Dhabi for the prisoner exchange.
Detaining foreigners to wring concessions from their home country’s government holds perils for both sides, but especially, perhaps surprisingly, for the hostage takers.
Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was in prison for two years, said she was unable to simply pick up where she left off, quitting her job, traveling and then writing about her experience.
Westerners in Russia have to weigh the risks of living and working in the country against professional and financial opportunities there.
The scene on the tarmac with Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout didn’t just show a prisoner trade. It told the story of where two rival countries had landed decades after the Cold War.
To the West, he is a criminal with blood on his hands, a global weapons merchant — but Russia portrays Mr. Bout as a victim of American injustice.
U.S. officials say Moscow had been pushing for the release of a Russian assassin being held in Germany before finally agreeing to release Ms. Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer.