Photos capture the moment Americans freed in a historic prisoner exchange land on American soil

• Evan Gershkovich, Paulo Whelanand Alsou Kumasheva were released in a prisoner exchange.

• The trio was welcomed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of Joint Base Andrews.

• They will go to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for evaluation and treatment.

The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovichformer US Marine Paulo Whelanand journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Alsou Kumasheva landed at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday night.

The trio were welcomed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris after being released from detention in Russia as part of a massive multi-country prisoner exchange, the largest scholarship in post-Soviet history.

Whelan was the first to disembark on Thursday. The Navy veteran was arrested and jailed by Russia in 2018 on espionage charges.

Whelan’s brother David, formerly expressed disappointment after Whelan was not included in a Prison exchange in 2022which saw the release of the WNBA player Britney Griner.

“We are grateful for everyone’s efforts to help Paul while he was away. We hope you will continue to help him by providing Paul the space and privacy he needs as he rebuilds his life,” Whelan’s family said in a statement upon his release, per CBS News.

Photographers also captured the emotional moments of the three’s reunion with their families.

The Journal’s Gershkovich, detained by the Russians for 491 days on espionage charges, was seen hugging your motherElla Milman.

Kurmasheva was reunited with her husband, Pavel Butorin, and daughters Bibi and Miriam on Thursday night.

The Russian-American journalist was visiting her mother in May 2023 when Russian authorities confiscated her passports and detained her, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Russia later accused Kurmasheva of being a foreign agent and detained her.

The stop at Joint Base Andrews will be just the first on the journey. The three will then head to San Antonio, Texas, to Brooke Army Medical Center for evaluation and any treatment they may need.

“We waited 491 days for Evan’s release and it’s hard to describe what it’s like today. We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet, brave smile up close,” Gershkovich’s family said in a statement. declaration On thursday.

“No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsou’s families,” the statement added.

Read the original article at Business Insider