Russian minister says US ‘isn’t helping’ by bringing up prisoner swap talks on reporter Gershkovich

Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s foreign minister blamed “the Americans” for publicly bringing up a possible prisoner exchange involving imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, which he said “isn’t helping.” Sergey Lavrov told a U.N. news conference Wednesday that confidential negotiations are still “ongoing.” Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court Thursday. He was arrested on espionage charges more than a year ago. He, the Journal and the U.S. vehemently deny the allegations against him. Russian authorities haven’t offered any evidence that he was working for the United States. He faces up to 20 years in prison, though Russia has indicated it is open to a prisoner swap after a verdict.