WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich makes VERY cheeky request after getting released from Russian prison

Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich made a bold petition for an question and reply pinch Vladimir Putin up of his merchandise from a Russian jail. 

The journalist was freed arsenic portion of a historical captive switch involving 24 inmates from betwixt Russia and nan West.

Gershkovich, 32, had been incarcerated for almost 500 days until his merchandise connected Thursday, on pinch 2 different US nationals and different prisoners.

He was being held successful Russia connected espionage charges which nan US authorities deemed illegitimate. 

Now it has emerged that earlier his daze release, Gershkovich near a statement for nan Russian premier asking if he would beryllium down for an interview, the WSJ reports.

The petition was made arsenic portion of mandated forms Gershkovich filled retired arsenic portion of his exertion for statesmanlike clemency.

'The past statement submitted a connection of his own: After his release, would Putin beryllium consenting to beryllium down for an interview?' The WSJ said.

Gershkovich was detained successful March 2023 on espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years successful situation successful July.

He was released on pinch erstwhile US marine Paul Whelan, 54, who had besides been convicted of spying and Russian-American power journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

The US nationals were among a group of 16 Western prisoners whose merchandise was negotiated arsenic portion of nan trade.

They included greenish paper holder Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British dissident journalist besides jailed successful Russia and astatine slightest 7 Russian guidance figures who had been incarcerated successful their homeland.

Kara-Murza, 42, was arrested successful April 2022, conscionable hours aft a CNN question and reply was broadcast successful which he stated Russia was run by a 'regime of murderers'.

Their merchandise formed portion of a analyzable and historical captive speech involving 7 different countries.

The speech yet took spot successful nan Turkish superior of Ankara connected Thursday morning. 

It is understood that White House officials, diplomats and nan CIA were each portion of nan speech process - and painstakingly assessed which different Western and Middle Eastern countries were consenting to merchandise Russian prisoners arsenic portion of nan deal. 

According to nan WSJ, past week CIA Director William Burns traveled to Turkey to finalize nan logistics for nan speech pinch his Kremlin equivalent. 

President Biden besides played a domiciled successful nan historical speech - speaking straight pinch premier curate of Slovenia Robert Golob to get him connected committee pinch pardoning 2 Russian spies, who were to beryllium handed backmost to Russia successful nan swap. 

The president lauded nan woody arsenic a 'feat of diplomacy' arsenic he confirmed 16 prisoners had been released from Russia, including 7 guidance figures incarcerated successful their homeland.

'Some of these women and men person been unjustly held for years. All person endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,' Biden said.

'This is simply a powerful illustration of why it's captious to person friends successful this world whom you tin spot and dangle upon. Our alliances make Americans safer.

'And fto maine beryllium clear: I will not extremity moving until each American wrongfully detained aliases held hostage astir nan world is reunited pinch their family. 

'Today, we observe nan return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice pinch their families.'

The woody mostly hinged connected nan merchandise of convicted assassin Vadim Krasikov from a German prison, wherever he had been serving life for nan broad-daylight execution of a Georgia-born Chechen separatist. 

Putin is understood to person personally requested Krasikov's merchandise successful speech for Gershkovich and nan different hostages arsenic a reward for nan 'state-contracted killing'.