Americans Freed in Russia Prisoner Swap Reunite with Families

Three Americans who were released in a significant prisoner swap with Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have arrived back in the United States. The swap, described as the largest since the end of the Cold War, involved the exchange of 16 prisoners for eight Russians.

Alongside Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were freed. The exchange took place at an airfield in Turkey and was facilitated by negotiations spanning over 18 months. The deal included the return of Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for a Berlin assassination.

Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the freed Americans were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before reuniting with their families. The three were later sent to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas for medical evaluations.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin welcomed the returned Russians, including Krasikov, and announced they would receive state awards. The swap also involved other prisoners from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus.

The exchange follows prior discussions that included jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but these discussions fell through after his death in February. The swap comes amid high tensions between Moscow and the West, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.