President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris personally greeted journalist Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans on Thursday, as they returned to US soil following a significant prisoner swap with Russia.
Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who had been detained in Russia on espionage charges, was among those released in the exchange. He was joined by former US Marine Paul Whelan, who had been held in Russia for nearly five years on similar charges, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who had been detained for her reporting.
The three Americans were met with cheers and applause from family and friends as they stepped off the plane, each taking a moment to embrace Biden and Harris, who were present to welcome them home. The reunion was an emotional one, underscoring the relief and joy of their return after enduring months, and in some cases years, of imprisonment under difficult conditions.
The prisoner swap, which involved extensive negotiations between the US and Russian governments, marks one of the most high-profile exchanges in recent years. It comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and strained diplomatic relations.
A great day to be an American 🇺🇸
— Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) August 2, 2024
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greet freed prisoners — Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva as they’re reunited with their loved ones.
A beautiful moment to witness, and it’s clear by his remarks that the… pic.twitter.com/Dw1a7J04Pp
Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who had been detained in Russia on espionage charges, was among those released in the exchange. He was joined by former US Marine Paul Whelan, who had been held in Russia for nearly five years on similar charges, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who had been detained for her reporting.
The three Americans were met with cheers and applause from family and friends as they stepped off the plane, each taking a moment to embrace Biden and Harris, who were present to welcome them home. The reunion was an emotional one, underscoring the relief and joy of their return after enduring months, and in some cases years, of imprisonment under difficult conditions.
The prisoner swap, which involved extensive negotiations between the US and Russian governments, marks one of the most high-profile exchanges in recent years. It comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and strained diplomatic relations.
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