’I can’t wait to hug him’: the Guardian’s Pjotr Sauer reacts to Evan Gershkovich’s release

After spending more than a year imprisoned in Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was freed in a prisoner exchange between the west and Moscow. The deal, mediated by Turkey, saw 16 citizens of western countries exchanged for eight Russians. The Guardian’s Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, describes how it felt to see his friend disembark from the plane in Ankara and walk free Gershkovich release: Biden and Harris greet Americans freed after prisoner swap Evan Gershkovich is free – and keen to raise plight of Russian political prisoners