15.04°C Vancouver

Aug 1, 2024 3:53 PM - The Canadian Press

Canadian-born captive and American journalist freed in prisoner swap with Russia

Share On
canadian-born-captive-and-american-journalist-freed-in-prisoner-swap-with-russia
Officials in Turkey, where the exchange took place, say some two dozen people were set free through the multinational deal.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canadian-born Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich were set free today as the United States and Russia completed their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history.

Officials in Turkey, where the exchange took place, say some two dozen people were set free through the multinational deal.

Whelan, who was born in Canada to British parents, was detained in December 2018 after traveling to Russia for a wedding.

Whelan was convicted of espionage charges in Russia, which he and the U.S. have said were false, and was serving a 16-year prison sentence.

Gershkovich was arrested while on a reporting trip in 2003 when Russian authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S.

The White House did not immediately release any details on the deal and Global Affairs Canada has yet not provided any comment.

Latest news

quebec-plans-new-law-to-ban-religious-symbols-in-daycare-centres
CanadaOct 23, 2025

Quebec plans new law to ban religious symbols in daycare centres

The Quebec government is moving to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols in the province’s daycare centres, expanding its existing secularism policies in early childhood settings. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said there is broad public agreement that Quebec’s commitment to secular values should be reinforced. The decision follows recommendations made earlier this year by a provincial advisory committee that studied ways to strengthen secularism laws. Quebec’s current legislation already restricts public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, police off
alberta-government-plans-back-to-work-legislation-as-teachers-strike-enters-third-week
AlbertaOct 23, 2025

Alberta government plans back-to-work legislation as teachers’ strike enters third week

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday if no deal is reached to end the provincewide teachers’ strike. Smith said the walkout, now in its third week, has caused “intolerable hardship” for students and families, adding that the government cannot allow the disruption to continue. The strike has shut down classrooms for about 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools across the province. While formal negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the province are not currently
superintendent-peri-mainwaring-appointed-new-head-of-north-vancouver-rcmp
BCOct 23, 2025

Superintendent Peri Mainwaring appointed new head of North Vancouver RCMP

The North Vancouver RCMP has a new Officer-in-Charge. Superintendent Peri Mainwaring has been appointed to lead the detachment, bringing more than three decades of policing experience with the RCMP. Mainwaring began her career in Saskatchewan and has served in municipal, provincial and federal roles across the country. Before her latest promotion, she was the Community Programs Officer with the Burnaby RCMP, where she helped strengthen community safety initiatives and led work on mental health and crisis intervention. Her connection to North Vancouver is longstanding — Mainwaring previously
pm-modi-invites-canadian-pm-to-new-delhi
CanadaOct 23, 2025

PM Modi invites Canadian PM to New Delhi

India has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi early in the new year for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This could pave the way for a new economic relationship and a free trade agreement between the two countries. India's High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Kumar Patnaik said that a sincere effort is being made by the two leaders to improve diplomatic relations and increase trade and investment opportunities amid the tariff war with the US. Patnaik said that if the two countries negotiate a far-reaching agreement, annual trade between Canada and India could cross $50-billio
interior-health-testing-virtual-emergency-care-to-support-rural-hospitals
BCOct 23, 2025

Interior Health testing virtual emergency care to support rural hospitals

Interior Health is planning a pilot project that would use virtual emergency care to help keep small hospitals in British Columbia’s Interior open during staffing shortages. The proposal would link hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton, allowing physicians to share responsibilities through a combination of on-site and remote support. Interior Health says the four facilities face similar challenges, with low overnight patient volumes but frequent service interruptions due to limited staffing. The health authority says it is consulting with local doctors and staff to determi

Related News