Media from the United States is reporting that the governments of that country and Turkey have come to an agreement to free Pastor Andrew Brunson. 

Brunson, who has been in Turkish custody for two years, was supposed to have another hearing today. 

Late last night NBC News reported that the White House and Turkey reached an agreement that would see Brunson released in the next few days.

According to the report, "Under an agreement senior Trump administration officials recently reached with Turkey, Brunson is supposed to be released after certain charges against him are dropped at his next court hearing, currently scheduled for Friday, the senior administration officials and a person briefed on the matter said."

While the details aren't clear, it was reportedly believed that part of it included the United States loosening economic sanctions against Turkey.

However, nobody is celebrating quite yet.

According to NBC, "The Trump administration, however, isn't fully confident that Turkey will follow through with the Brunson agreement because Ankara was close to a commitment to release him several months ago but did not, one senior administration official said."

Brunson has already appeared in court today. Former Turkish member of parliament Aykan Erdemir is saying that witnesses who have appeared at the hearing are now changing their testimony. This would clear the way for the judge to dismiss the case.

 

Update - 8:00 a.m. 

The Turkish prosecutor has asked that Pastor Brunson's travel ban be lifted, and that he be released from house arrest. That's according to Marc Champion, a reporter for Bloomberg.

 

Update - 8:10 a.m. 

The prosecutor has also asked for a 10-year sentence for Brunson.

 

The verdict is now being decided.

Update 8:35 a.m. 

Pastor Andrew Brunson has been sentenced to 3 years, 1 month and 15 days according to reporter Diego Cupolo. However, the judicial controls (house arrest and travel ban) have indeed been lifted. This means that Brunson is free to leave Turkey as of today.