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US President Joe Biden said, ‘Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home," Biden said in a statement’ read more
 "US Prez Biden celebrates prisoner swap freeing Evan Gershovich & Paul Whelan")
US President Joe Biden. Source: REUTERS
‘Feat of diplomacy’: Biden celebrates prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershovich & Paul Whelan
US President Joe Biden on Thursday “celebrated” the return of WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich, a veteran US marine Paul Whelan, Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, another Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Opinions contributor.
“Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home,” Biden said in a statement.
‘Feat of diplomacy’
The US President called the deal a “feat of diplomacy and vowed that he “will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family.”
On Thursday, 26 different people held in seven different countries - the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus - were freed.
A report by Reuters cited Turkish official saying that the prisoner deal, the largest swap in post-Soviet history between Russia and the US, took place in the Turkish capital Ankara.
According to Turkish officials, 10 prisoners, including two minors, were moved to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the US.
In a written statement ahead of his address in the White House, Biden said: “The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy.”
Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza are coming home. pic.twitter.com/wWGA83Ss8A
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 1, 2024‘Agony is over’
Bident further said, “We’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.”
“I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer,” the US President said.
‘Will not stop working until…’
“And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home,” he said.
“Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong,” Biden said.
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English (US) ·