RT has received exclusive footage of the moment Russian law enforcement apprehended Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as he sought to hide what seemed to be a flash drive with illegally obtained confidential material. The journalist was one of those traded in last week's historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West.

Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage in 2023 in "the interests of his country." 

The previously unreported video released on Monday depicts Gershkovich's arrest in March 2023 in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg. The journalist is shown eating in a restaurant with his "source", while the two debate in Russian how to send over classified material about the country's military sector in a method that won't enable the Russian authorities to track the leak.

As Russian operatives arrive, Gershkovich attempts to hide what seems to be a flash drive with the data beneath the table before being apprehended. At the time, the Kremlin claimed the reporter was "caught red-handed," while Russia's Investigative Committee alleged he was conducting espionage for the CIA.

Gershkovich has maintained his innocence, citing he was only performing his job as a reporter.

A Russian court sentenced him to 16 years in prison last month while the current US administration has called him "wrongfully detained".

However, the journalist was one of 16 Western detainees involved in last week's historic swap arrangement.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the successful return of eight Russians who had been detained in various NATO countries.

The exchange took place at Ankara Airport, Turkey, and was part of a complex negotiation involving multiple parties.

The Russians were returned as part of a broader prisoner swap. In return, a group of individuals involved in activities against Russia's security were exchanged.

🇺🇸🇹🇷🇷🇺 Des images claires de l’échange de prisonniers entre les États-Unis et la Russie, réalisé sous la coordination du MIT à Ankara, ont été publiées.

🇺🇸🇹🇷🇷🇺 Clear images of the prisoner exchange between the USA and Russia, carried out under the coordination of MİT in Ankara,… pic.twitter.com/6Ej3WGK7OC

— Flashinfo (@Realnews829984) August 1, 2024

Among those released from Russia were Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US Marine veteran Paul Whelan.

The full list of pardoned individuals includes both Russian citizens and foreigners, such as Viktor Lik, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Alexandra Skochilenko.

A credible source from a Russian agency stated that Russia is fully satisfied with the outcome of the swap. All parties involved adhered to the agreements during the exchange process, which was described as technically complex.