Three Americans who were released in a high-profile prisoner swap with Russia have returned to the US. Among them is Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich,
who, along with former US Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, landed back on US soil.
The swap, considered the largest since the end of the Cold War, involved 16 prisoners being exchanged for eight Russians. The exchange took place at an airfield in Turkey and marked a significant diplomatic milestone.
Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the three freed individuals were greeted with cheers from those on the tarmac. US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were present to welcome them. Biden observed as Gershkovich shared an emotional embrace with his mother, Ella Milman.
After their arrival, the three were briefly on the tarmac for photos and reunions with their families before departing the airbase. President Biden expressed relief and satisfaction over their release, calling their ordeal "brutal" and praising the role of allies like Germany and Slovenia in the diplomatic effort. He described the release as a "feat of diplomacy."
Following their return, the three Americans were taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas for medical evaluations.
The swap, over 18 months in the making, was significantly influenced by Moscow’s demand for Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for a Berlin park assassination. Krasikov has now returned to Russia.
In total, 24 individuals from prisons across seven countries were exchanged. The swap involved the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus. According to the Turkish presidency, ten individuals were relocated to Russia, thirteen to Germany, and three to the US.
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin personally welcomed the returned Russians, presenting them with bouquets and promising state awards. Among the returnees were a Russian couple convicted of spying in Slovenia, who were reunited with their two children.
The European Union and NATO both welcomed the swap, which was mediated by Turkey. Other released individuals included German citizen Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death in Belarus before being pardoned.
The swap followed days of speculation about a major international exchange, driven by the movement of dissidents and journalists from Russian prisons to undisclosed locations. This high-profile exchange contrasts with the last major swap in December 2022, when US basketball star Brittney Griner was exchanged for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Another notable swap occurred in 2010 in Vienna, involving 10 Russian spies and 4 alleged double agents.
Tensions between Moscow and the West have been high in recent years, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Photo by Wikimedia commons.