Isa Cruz

Four hundred and ninety-one days after he was detained by the Russian government on false espionage charges, American journalist and Bowdoin alumnus Evan Gershkovich ’14 was released in a multinational prisoner swap organized by the Biden-Harris administration. The deal also included the returns of Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for Radio Free Europe, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine. The Bowdoin community was elated by Gershkovich’s return to the U.S. on Thursday and quick to celebrate his freedom.

“His wrongful imprisonment was so deeply felt at Bowdoin, his life and work to tell the stories of others are inspirational to so many of us here, myself included, and his release is a moment of tremendous relief and joy,” President Safa Zaki wrote in an email to the Orient.

In a separate email to the Bowdoin community on Thursday, President Zaki expressed gratitude for the support shown for Gershkovich throughout his imprisonment.

“I know that keeping Evan’s situation in people’s minds and sharing stories about him as a friend, classmate, student and journalist has mattered. I am so grateful for this Bowdoin community,” Zaki wrote.

Gershkovich’s friend Sam Silverman ’14 said he first heard rumors about a large-scale prisoner swap on Wednesday.

“That’s when I started to get my hopes up, and I was just glued to any scrap of news I could get my hands on,” Silverman said. “After he greeted President Biden and Vice President Harris on the tarmac, we knew it was over. He was finally home…. It happened so quickly, and that contributed to the disbelief and the surreal feeling of it—something you’ve been thinking about and hoping for every single day for well over a year—coming to fruition in 24 hours.”

Silverman was impressed that Gershkovich’s first comments to the media were about the Russian dissidents still imprisoned.

“I’m really inspired by his strength, his courage and his perseverance. I think he’s an amazing role model for all of us to look to,” Silverman said.

Associate Vice President of Safety and Security Randy Nichols has been outspoken on campus about Gershkovich’s imprisonment and was thrilled to hear the news of his release.

“My feelings of relief and gratitude were overwhelming,” Nichols said. “I am overjoyed for Evan’s family and closest friends today. The stark reality is freedom is a fragile thing.”

Professor of English Emeritus David Collings, with whom Gershkovich took classes and completed an independent study at Bowdoin, was pleased to hear Gershkovich was coming home. Collings had hoped there would be news of a deal after the Russian government convicted Gershkovich of the false espionage charges last month in a secret three-day trial and sentenced him to 16 years in prison.

“It was a great relief,” Collings said. “I got an email from someone who wanted to hear my reaction, so that’s how I found out. Then I went and saw the news had just broken a few minutes before…. I’m thrilled he is coming home.”

Collings added that he was surprised by the scope of the deal.

“I’m also stunned that the deal included Russian nationals who were dissidents,” Collings said. “The parties in the negotiations were clearly working for a very long time to put a deal together. I’m amazed by the significance of it.”

At the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), where Gershkovich has worked as a reporter since 2022, the news of his release was met with relief and a call for justice for the hostages who remain in Russia.

“We are overjoyed that Evan and his family are soon to be reunited,” Paul Beckett, assistant editor at the WSJ, wrote in an email to the Orient. “There was a huge push to keep him in the news—by news outlets, by well-wishers and by the places that matter most to Evan, including Bowdoin. It is a day for celebration, with the hope that the U.S. and other governments find a way to stop this despicable practice of hostage-taking.”

Gershkovich’s tenure in Russian prison has not diminished his commitment to journalism. As part of his release, Gershkovich had to complete a form officially asking Russian President Vladimir Putin for clemency. Gershkovich took advantage of the opportunity by writing in a request to interview Putin on the form.

“It makes sense to understand his daring coverage of Russia, even under Putin, as an expanse of dedication to finding out truth and sharing it with the world, despite the odds,” Collings said. “It totally fits Evan’s personality. He’s totally gregarious, totally eager, super curious. He’s a real mensch.”