Overview

• US officials have revealed that Russia rejected a 'substantial' proposal for the release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan.
• Gershkovich and Whelan have been charged with espionage by Russian officials, allegations they and the US government deny.
• Gershkovich has been detained for over 250 days, while Whelan was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020.
• Russia has previously suggested it is open to a prisoner swap for Gershkovich, but only after a verdict is delivered in his case.
• The US government has declared both Whelan and Gershkovich to be 'wrongfully detained'.