Russia prisoner swap - LIVE: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan freed in largest exchange since Cold War

US journalist Evan Gershkovich has been named as one of 26 prisoners exchanged between Russia and Western countries in what is the largest swap since the Cold War.

The Turkish presidency, who is reportedly presiding over the swaps, due to take place at Ankara airport in central Turkey, claimed that Gershkovich and US Marine Paul Whelan are among the prisoners from the United States, Russia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus being freed in the major east-west exchange.

The president’s office said that 10 prisoners, including two minors, had been moved to Russia, while 13 had been moved to Germany and three to the United States.

Vladimir Kara-Murza , a Russian-British dissident, is believed to be another of the swaps but was not named by the Turkish presidency. The full details of the exchange remain unclear.

Footage from Ankara airport appears to show a Russian government plane known to have been involved in previous exchanges sitting on the tarmac.

Earlier, flight tracker data showed that plane arriving in Ankara from Moscow. An unidentified person was then seen leaving the jet.