The United States and Russia executed a significant prisoner swap on Thursday, the largest since the Soviet era. Moscow released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan. The exchange, involving 24 individuals, took place in Turkey.
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: BIDEN AND KAMALA WELCOME AMERICANS FREED IN PRISONER SWAP
Biden and Kamala welcomed Americans involved in the prisoner swap with Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
After their arrival… https://t.co/9oag7z2Ei6 pic.twitter.com/0vtx48T3fY
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 2, 2024
The Wall Street Journal confirmed Gershkovich’s release. This swap follows a December 2022 exchange that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner in return for arms trafficker Viktor Bout. Russia also secured the release of its nationals convicted in the West.
Three Americans landed at a U.S. airbase outside Washington late Thursday night. Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Whelan were greeted by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their families. Photos from the White House showed them smiling on board the plane.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Germans and Russians freed in the swap, stating they arrived safely at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among the released were five German citizens, and Germany deported Vadim Krasikov, convicted of a state-ordered killing in Berlin.
Evan Gershkovich’s family expressed their joy, eager to reunite with him. Vice President Harris praised the courage of the released Americans and mentioned her conversation with Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny’s associates were also part of the swap.
Former President Donald Trump criticised the Biden administration’s negotiations, questioning the terms of the exchange. European leaders praised the release but condemned Moscow for trading innocent citizens for convicted criminals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted returning ex-prisoners at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. Meanwhile, President Biden thanked Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his role in facilitating the prisoner swap.
The swap included Vadim Krasikov, who had served a life sentence in Germany for a 2019 Berlin killing. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the challenge of sending back a convicted criminal but deemed the benefits greater.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed the release of Mikhail Mikushin, a suspected Russian military officer, as part of the exchange. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the return of British nationals Vladimir Kara-Murza and Paul Whelan.
The Turkish government detailed the swap’s execution at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. Individuals involved were supervised by Turkish agents and underwent health checks before boarding planes to their respective destinations.
President Biden and Vice President Harris joined the families of the released Americans at Joint Base Andrews. Biden also addressed Trump’s criticisms, noting that most detainees were imprisoned during his own presidency.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus’ opposition leader, expressed hope that the exchange could signal future of political prisoner swap in her country.
The U.S. justified the swap, emphasising the priority of securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanked those involved in the release of Pavel Rubtsov, known as Pablo Gonzalez.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticised the exchange, expressing disdain for those he labelled as traitors. Yulia Navalnaya and Leonid Volkov, allies of the late Alexei Navalny, reflected on the bittersweet nature of the swap.
Notably, the exchange included a diverse group, from journalists and political activists to alleged spies.
Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker celebrated Gershkovich’s release, marking a significant moment for the publication. Gershkovich’s arrest and trial had drawn international attention, with many viewing the charges as baseless.
The swap, resulting from months of negotiations, was a diplomatic achievement but came at a cost. Russia secured the release of its nationals convicted of serious crimes in return for Westerners held under dubious charges.
Biden credited allies for their role in the exchange, highlighting the importance of international cooperation. Republicans acknowledged the cost of the swap, while Democrats praised the inclusion of Russian opposition leaders.
Amnesty International welcomed the release but cautioned that it could encourage further political detentions by Russia. Vice President Harris and President Biden both celebrated the successful negotiations, reiterating their commitment to securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans.
A Turkish official revealed that Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, facilitated the talks between the U.S. and Russia. Senator Lindsey Graham criticised the swap, suggesting a tougher stance against Russia.
Wall Street Journal staff celebrated Gershkovich’s release, marking a historic day for the publication. The high-profile swap, involving significant concessions from multiple countries, underscored the complexities of international diplomacy in securing detainees’ freedom.
