The United States and Russia completed a multi-country prisoner swap on Thursday that brought home several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. The exchange involved a total of 16 people from various countries who were detained by Russia, with Western nations releasing eight Russians as part of the deal. President Joe Biden praised the cooperation of allied nations in securing the release of the prisoners, stating that without their support the negotiations wouldn’t have been successful.
Biden emphasized the importance of allies in achieving diplomatic feats like this and highlighted the role of countries such as Germany, Poland, and Norway in releasing prisoners from their countries. The President also mentioned his administration’s efforts in bringing home over 70 Americans who were wrongfully detained abroad since he took office, issuing executive orders authorizing penalties for those holding Americans against their will.
The release included journalists, dissidents, and innocent individuals who had been wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. The significance of the prisoner swap was celebrated by members of Congress, with Senator Gary Peters expressing relief for Whelan’s family and Senator Debbie Stabenow welcoming his return home. However, concerns were raised about other Americans still held in Russian prisons, urging continued efforts to bring them back to the U.S.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called the exchange one of the largest and most complex in history, emphasizing ongoing efforts to secure the release of all Americans wrongfully detained abroad. The release of the prisoners marked a positive outcome after years of diplomatic efforts and advocacy from officials and families involved in the negotiations.
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