Expert says Russian release of journalists is ‘positive development for press freedom’

The surprising news that Russia released two well-known American detainees has proved to be part of a larger exchange involving at least 24 prisoners and seven countries.

The prisoner exchange is the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War, and included the return to the United States of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-United States Marine Paul Whelan.

Virginia Tech political scientist and foreign policy expert Paul Avey answered questions about the importance of the prisoner exchange.

“It’s wonderful to see Russia release U.S. citizens from prison: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva. Russia unjustly arrested and imprisoned all three. Gershkovitch and Kurmasheva are both journalists. Their release is a positive development for press freedom, which has been increasingly under assault around the globe, according to Reporters Without Borders.  Freedom of the press, including freedom from intimidation, is a cornerstone of free and democratic societies,” said Avey, who teaches about and conducts research on nuclear politics, U.S. foreign policy, strategy and international relations theory.

According to Avey, the prisoner release happened now thanks to “quiet, patient, and multilateral diplomacy by the Biden-Harris administration working with U.S. allies. It’s part of broader U.S. efforts to secure release of American citizens wrongfully detained or held hostage. President Biden said in a statement that his administration ‘has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before’ he took office.”

The prisoner exchange highlights the importance of communication between rival nations, but, Avey said, is unlikely to change U.S. and NATO geopolitical competition between the U.S. and Russia.

“Past exchanges have not shifted the trajectory.  Policies toward the Russian-Ukrainian War will likely remain the same as well. The U.S. elections in November and developments on the battlefield will play more important roles in shaping those policies,” Avey, author of Tempting Fate: Why Nonnuclear States Confront Nuclear Opponents, said.