The White House held a press conference Thursday to celebrate the largest prisoner swap between Russia and the U.S. since the end of the Cold War. The swap involved participation by seven countries. American journalists and critics of the Kremlin as well as a former U.S. Marine were released in the exchange.
Details of the Prisoner Exchange
President Joe Biden confirmed that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan are part of the exchange. Media reporter Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, along with other allies of late Kremlin opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died earlier this year, were also included in the prisoner swap.
Facilitation by Turkey
Turkey acted as the facilitator of the large-scale exchange, which involved over 25 prisoners from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus.
Release of Vadim Krasikov
The West released Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin.
Reactions from U.S. Lawmakers
U.S. lawmakers have responded generally favorably. However, they remain concerned that the negotiations will give Russian President Vladimir Putin a greater sense of power in the effectiveness of his hostage protocols.
Photos of Released Hostages
The Wall Street Journal posted the first photos of some American hostages released Thursday morning.
Biden’s Meeting with Families
Before Biden took to the White House podium to speak on the exchange, he hosted the families of the American prisoners as they met with their released relatives for the first time since imprisonment.
Biden’s Remarks on Social Media
Biden wrote on X, “Today, I stood beside the families of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir in the Oval Office as they spoke to their loved ones for the first time since they regained freedom.”
He continued, “These families never lost hope. And today, they’ll each be reunited with the missing piece of their soul.”
Reactions from Governors
Governors representing states around the country whose residents were returned to the prisoner exchange spoke out in celebration and gratitude for the Administration’s efforts to return the prisoners.
Governor Phil Murphy’s Statement
Governor Phil Murphy from New Jersey celebrated the return of Evan Gershkovich, saying, “Evan is a New Jersey native and Princeton High School graduate who was wrongfully convicted of espionage by the brutal Putin regime–a pawn in a politically motivated game. I am praying for his safety and health as he returns home to his family and reacclimates to life back in the U.S.”
Celebration by Wall Street Journal Journalists
Fellow Wall Street Journal journalists also celebrated Gershkovich’s freedom, writing, “Evan is free now!”
The Wall Street Journal Editor in Chief Emma Tucker had previously asked staff to use hashtag #istandwithevan upon his initial arrest. Now, reporters said, “We are finally able to change that message.”
Acknowledgment of Germany’s Concessions
Biden acknowledged that the Germans had made significant concessions in the prisoner exchange. He thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his efforts to release a convicted Russian assassin, Vadim Krasikov, in exchange for the release of Americans imprisoned in Russia.
Biden’s Remarks on International Cooperation
Biden said, “I particularly owe a great sense of gratitude to the Chancellor. The demands Russia was making of me required me to get some significant concessions from Germany, which they originally concluded they could not do because of the person in question.”
Biden Thanks Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Turkey
Biden continued, “But everybody stepped up. Poland stepped up, Slovenia stepped up, Turkey stepped up. It matters to have relationships; it really does.”
