Tucker Carlson presses Putin about releasing Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia

During a wide-ranging interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked him if he would consider releasing a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been in Russian prison for almost a year.

"I just want to ask you directly without getting into the tales of it or your version of what happened, if, as a sign of your decency, you would be willing to release him to us and we'll bring him back to the United States?" Carlson asked.

Putin hesitated before responding with, "We have done so many gestures of good will out of decency that I think we have run out of them. No, we have never seen anyone reciprocate to us in a similar manner."

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen who was reporting in Russia, was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service on espionage charges in March of 2023.

The Wall Street Journal has come out strongly against the move, saying that Gershkovich was wrongly detained for just doing his job as a journalist.

Later in the interview, Putin said he does want Gershovich to return to the U.S., there have to be negotiations between the two countries to make that happen. 

"I also want him to be returned to his homeland at last," Putin said. "I am absolutely sincere. But let me say once again: the dialogue continues."