Reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva have returned to the US after being part of a major prisoner exchange with Russia, with 26 people involved overall. The trio was met with cheers and warm welcomes at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden expressed gratitude to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his role in the release of a Russian prisoner, Vadim Krasikov, who had been serving a life sentence for murder in Germany. The swap, negotiated in secrecy for over a year, also involved the release of 16 individuals from Russia and seven Russian political prisoners. The deal, mediated by Turkey, required significant concessions from multiple countries.
This exchange is considered the biggest in post-Soviet history, and came after a previous swap in December 2022 involving basketball player Brittney Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Upon their return to Russia, President Vladimir Putin greeted the citizens and stated that they would be honored with state awards. The release of these individuals was welcomed by Vice President Harris, who called the previous situation an “appalling perversion of justice.” Overall, the exchange represents a significant diplomatic effort and highlights the importance of international cooperation and alliances.
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