President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the release of 16 people detained in Russia as part of a significant prisoner exchange with Moscow. “We are also working around the clock to bring home Amercians being unjustly detained all around the world”, stated Mr. Biden. Among those released would be four U.S. citizens, a person with legal residency in the United States, and other prisoners of various nationalities. It was announced that Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal journalist; Paul Whelan, a Marine veteran; Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American radio journalist; and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and contributor to the Washington Post, also an American Green Card holder are now out of the nation governed by Vladimir Putin. In addition to these four, five German citizens and seven Russians were also freed.
In a statement issued shortly before his press appearance at the White House, Biden described the exchange as “a feat of diplomacy.” “Now,their brutal ordeal is over,” the President declared, referring to the detainees who have finally regained their freedom. The Biden Administration had prioritized the release of Whelan and Gershkovich in the negotiations, which involved several European countries. Biden expressed his gratitude to Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for their cooperation in the process, underlining that these nations played a crucial role in reaching this historic agreement.
“All four (American citizens) have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia” Biden highlighted, also emphasizing the harsh conditions the prisoners faced during their detention. “Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak with them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They are out of Russia. Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey and soon they will be wheeling upon their way home to see their families,” he added.
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Biden expressed particular gratitude to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “I particularly owe a great sense of gratitude to the Chancellor (because) the demands they are making to me required me to get some significant concessions from Germany,” Biden said when asked by the press at the White House. “So for anyone who questions whether allies matter,they do. Today is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world. Friends you can trust, work with, and depend upon,” he emphasized. The President also reaffirmed his commitment to continue working for the release of all Americans unjustly detained or taken hostage around the world.
According to Biden, he has secured the release of more than 70 Americans imprisoned abroad, since taking office in 2021. This exchange undoubtedly represents one of the most significant achievements of his foreign policy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also celebrated the prisoners’ release in a parallel statement, highlighting the cases of former Marine Paul Whelan and journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva. Blinken particularly thanked Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovenia, and Turkey for their help in this process, noting that this is the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War. “Under President Biden’s leadership, we have secured the release of dozens of Americans who have been kidnapped or unjustly detained,” Blinken said, emphasizing the State Department’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and return of U.S. citizens held abroad.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump demanded that the White House reveal the details of the agreement reached. “So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia? How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question because I’m sure the answer is NO)? Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs? Just curious because we never make good deals at anything, but especially hostage swaps ,” he wrote. This exchange represents a significant step in diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia.
