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Joe Biden helped orchestrate a historic prisoner swap with Russia.
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It is the largest exchange of its kind since the Cold War.
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The exchange, involving 16 prisoners, includes Americans Evan Gershkovich It is Paulo Whelan.
The United States agreed to a historic prisoner exchange – the largest since the Cold War – with Russia and several other countries, the White House announced on Thursday.
President Joe Biden participated directly in the negotiations that led to the release of 16 prisoners in Russia, including five Germans, seven Russian citizens detained in their own country and 4 Americans, the White House said. said in a press release.
The Americans include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was first detained in 2023 and sentenced to 16 years in prison in July on charges of espionage. Another notable prisoner included is former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia since 2018and was also serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges.
The other prisoners who will be able to return to the US are Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Muza, who is a legal permanent resident of the US.
Read Biden’s full statement on the statement below.
Today, three American citizens and one American green card holder who were wrongfully imprisoned in Russia are finally returning home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsou Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza. The agreement that guaranteed his freedom was a feat of diplomacy. In total, we negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia – including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly detained for years. All endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, your agony is over. I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us through difficult and complex negotiations to achieve this outcome – including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey. This is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world who you can trust and rely on. Our alliances make Americans safer. And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My administration has already brought home more than 70 of these Americans, many of whom had been in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are hurting and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing these Americans home. Today we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsou and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those who are still unjustly detained or held hostage around the world. And we reaffirm our commitment to your families: we see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.
Read the original article at Business Insider
