The White House confirms that the Biden administration continues to pursue the release of two detained Americans in Russia. Officials say Washington has not abandoned its efforts to secure the return of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. corporate security executive held in Moscow. These statements were made as part of a broader briefing by a White House press pool representative.
When asked about a message for Gershkovich and Whelan, President Joe Biden responded succinctly that the work would go on, adding that the United States is not giving up.
Earlier, CNN, citing a representative from the State Department, reported that Washington put forward a serious offer during recent discussions with Moscow aimed at advancing the release of Paul Whelan. The reported bid reflected the complex and high-stakes nature of negotiations involving detained Americans and factors such as judicial process and potential exchange terms.
State Department spokespersons reiterated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken remains firmly committed to securing Paul Whelan’s return home. This commitment has been echoed in public statements and through ongoing diplomatic channels, emphasizing the priority placed on U.S. citizens abroad who face extended detention.
Paul Whelan has been detained in Russia since December 2018 after being charged with espionage. He was sentenced to a 16-year term and transferred to a penal colony in Mordovia to serve the sentence. Whelan has repeatedly denied the charges.
The Moscow City Court recently rejected a request to extend the detention period for Evan Gershkovich, who has faced espionage accusations since his arrest at the end of March of the current year. Gershkovich remains in custody and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. In September, Gershkovich’s legal team filed a complaint challenging the three-month extension of his pretrial detention.
Meanwhile, Kremlin officials have sought to address a separate inquiry about the status of a Ukrainian journalist, underscoring the broader international attention these cases attract and the sensitivity of media-related detentions amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations.
As the case developments unfold, observers in the United States and allied capitals monitor the diplomatic effort closely. The discussions highlight the balance officials seek between principled support for detained citizens and the broader strategic considerations that shape negotiations with Moscow.