Upon their return to US soil after being freed by Russia in a significant prisoner swap, journalist Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans were warmly greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with hugs.
Cheered on by family and friends, Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, former US marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva embraced Biden and Harris as they disembarked a plane.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, Biden expressed his joy, saying, “It feels wonderful, it was a long time coming.”
These three individuals were part of a group of two dozen detainees released earlier in the day, marking the largest East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War.
Another freed prisoner, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian Kremlin critic with US residency, was also released but traveled separately back to the United States.
In total, 10 Russians, including two minors, were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians who were imprisoned in Russia, in a dramatic exchange on the airport tarmac in Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
Reflecting on the cooperation that led to this exchange, Biden remarked, “Alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us,” mentioning Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Belarus as key players in the deal.
Meanwhile, Harris, positioned as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, described the day as “an extraordinary one.”
The freed prisoners and their families are now expected to travel to San Antonio, Texas, for medical evaluations and any necessary care at the Brooke Army Medical Center, according to reports from US media.
– A Historic Swap –
Among the released prisoners, journalist Evan Gershkovich, aged 32, was the most high-profile figure. He was arrested in Russia in March 2023 during a reporting trip and later sentenced to 16 years in prison on spying charges, a verdict strongly criticized by the US.
Gershkovich, with a smile on his face and hands on his hips, stepped onto the runway and exchanged hugs with Biden and Harris before engaging in a conversation with them for about a minute.
Responding to fellow journalists’ inquiries about his feelings upon returning home, Gershkovich simply stated, “Not bad.”
Prior to his arrival, Gershkovich’s family released a statement expressing their anticipation, saying they had been “waiting 491 days for Evan’s release” and eagerly awaited the opportunity to embrace him.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia also welcomed back the prisoners from his country with admiration, mirroring the ceremony that unfolded in the US.
One of the returnees included Vadim Krasikov, a Russian intelligence agent imprisoned in Germany for the assassination of a former Chechen rebel.
“I want to congratulate you on your return to the motherland,” Putin said to the released individuals.
– Lives Saved –
The historic swap, following months of secretive negotiations, involved the release of Russians who were held for various crimes including murder and espionage.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the swap as “difficult” but emphasized that it had “saved lives.”
As part of the agreement, Germany agreed to accept 12 detainees, including five with German citizenship.
One of the detainees included Rico Krieger, a German national who had initially been sentenced to death in Belarus on espionage charges before being granted clemency this week.
Rumors of a potential exchange had circulated for days after several detainees mysteriously vanished from the prison system, but confirmation only came when the individuals switched planes in Ankara.
Reflecting on the successful exchange, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned, “We held our breath and crossed our fingers.”
This exchange marked the first between Russia and the West since US basketball player Brittney Griner was repatriated in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022.
It was the largest swap since 2010 when 14 alleged spies were exchanged, featuring prominent figures like double agent Sergei Skripal and undercover Russian agent Anna Chapman who were part of Cold War-era swaps between Soviet and Western powers.
Furthermore, the White House disclosed that there were discussions about a more extensive agreement that included negotiations for the release of Putin’s political rival Alexei Navalny before his unfortunate passing in February of this year.
AFP