08/02/2024

Americans Released in Russian Prisoner Swap are Back in the U.S.

They arrived late last night at Joint Base Andrew

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva landed in the U.S. late Thursday after being included in a historic prisoner swap with Russia. 

Whelan exited the plane first at Joint Base Andrew in Maryland, followed by Gershkovich then Kurmasheva, who works for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe. The trio exchanged handshakes and hugs with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and embraced their family members as onlookers cheered.

"My job is to make sure, number one, they don't get there, and if they do, we get them back," Biden told reporters at the base as the released prisoners were mingled with family and greeted friends looking on. "I don't buy this idea that you're going to let these people rot in jail because other people may be captured."

Please select this link to read the complete article from NPR.