Russia to remain quiet on prisoner swap talks, as Evan Gershkovich marks a year in custody

Russia said silence is paramount when discussing talks about prison swaps potentially including the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich whose detention reaches a one-year mark this week. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that “certain contacts” are made when potential prisoner exchanges are mentioned, but they would have to be carried out in tranquility.

"As for exchange matters, we have repeatedly stressed that there are certain contacts...