Americans freed from Russian prisons under landmark exchange deal land back in US | US News

Three Americans freed from Russian prisons under a historic exchange deal have returned to the United States.

Evan Gershkovich, Alsou Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan were part of a deal that freed 24 people in the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War.

They were welcomed on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Asked about concerns that the deal could incentivize the detention of Americans in Russia, Biden said: “I don’t believe in the idea that these people are left to rot in jail because other people can be captured.”

Analysis: The treatment with the prisoners was like a spy movie, but probably unique

The photos captured the emotional moment American prisoners were reunited with their families at the Maryland base.

Wall Street Journal reporter Mr. Gershkovich could be seen hugging his mother Ella Milman and Ms. Kurmasheva had an emotional reunion with her husband Pavel Butorin and daughters Miriam Butorin and Bibi Butorin.

On a warm, humid night, the freed Americans stood on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, relishing the moment of their return to the United States.

They took selfies with family and friends, shared hugs with Biden and Harris, patted loved ones on the back and showered them with kisses.

At one point, Biden gave Whelan the flag pin from his own lapel.

Harris called it “an extraordinary day” and praised Biden’s role in the prisoner exchange.

In an attack on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Harris said, “This is a testament to having a president who understands the power of diplomacy.”

The complex trade was secretly negotiated with Russia and several other countries for more than a year.

The return of Gershkovich, Kurmasheva and Whelan comes after the other 13 Western detainees were flown to Germany last night.

Among them was Vladimir Kara-Murza, a dual Russian and British citizen, who was imprisoned for 25 years after being convicted of criticizing the invasion of the country to Ukraine.

Under the agreement, eight Russian prisoners were released from prisons in the United States, Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland.

“Today is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world,” Biden said.

Americans released under the agreement.

Gershkovich was first arrested and detained in March 2023 after Russia claimed he had been “collecting secret information” on the orders of the CIA.

Gershkovich said the charges against him were false and his employer called the case a sham.

He was jailed for 16 years earlier this month after being found guilty of espionage in a trial widely seen as politically motivated.

Gershkovich’s family said in a statement published by The Wall Street Journal that “we can’t wait to give her the biggest hug and see her sweet, brave smile up close.”

The newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, called it a “happy day.”

Alsosu Kurmasheva has Russian and American citizenship and is a journalist for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, a US-funded media organization.

She was detained in June 2023 and later accused of spreading false information about the Russian military, which she denied.

Last month she was sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine, had been in custody in Russia since he was arrested in a Moscow hotel room on December 28, 2018.

Police said they caught him “red-handed” with a computer memory card containing a list of Russian secret agents.

He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security prison.

Whelan, who also has British citizenship, pleaded not guilty, claiming it was a sting operation and that someone else had given him the USB drive, thinking it only contained holiday photos.