Russia Rejects US Proposal to Release Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich

The United States has revealed that Russia rejected a recent "significant" proposal for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, both of whom are considered wrongfully detained. The State Department called on Russia to immediately release the American citizens and stated that their arrest was unjust. While details of the proposal were not disclosed, the announcement confirms that the US is actively working to secure their release. Whelan was arrested in 2018 on espionage charges and is serving a 16-year sentence, while Gershkovich was detained earlier this year and accused of being a spy.