Tucker Carlson Network/Handout via Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Tucker Carlson he would “not rule out” the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, though he continued to claim Gershkovich dabbled in espionage.
Putin’s comments came at the tail end of a two-hour interview with conservative vlogger Carlson that debuted on the former Fox News star’s website on Thursday. It’s the latest indication that Russia’s leader is open to releasing the Journal reporter, who has been imprisoned in the country for nearly a year as he awaits trial on an allegation of espionage. The Journal, parent company Dow Jones, and Gershkovich have all denied the allegation, while the newspaper has decried Gershkovich’s detention as “chilling and outrageous.”
Carlson himself tried to compel Putin to release Gershkovich, whose arrest the U.S. has deemed a wrongful detention, during the interview.