Who were the most notable Russian prisoners released?
The most notable Russian prisoner released as part of the swap is Vadim Krasikov, who was jailed for life in Germany for the 2019 murder in Berlin of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen separatist, in what prosecutors believed was a Russian state-sanctioned assassination. Russian authorities say they believed Khangoshvili was involved in multiple attacks on Russian soil, including the 2010 suicide bombings on the Moscow Metro.
The U.S. released three Russian prisoners, including an intelligence operative facing charges of smuggling U.S. technology and ammunition to the Russian military. Slovenia released two Russian prisoners, Norway and Poland each released one.
Russia released 12 German prisoners, most of them connected to opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in prison in February, following a yearslong struggle against official corruption and President Vladimir Putin’s government that included several poisoning attempts.
VP Harris celebrates release of those ‘unjustly held in Russia’
Vice President Kamala Harris said today that “we celebrate the release of Paul, Evan, Alsu, Vladimir and others who were unjustly held in Russia.”
“It gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is over and that they will soon be reunited with their families,” Harris said in a post on X, and added that she and President Biden “will not stop working until every American who is wrongfully detained or held hostage is brought home.”
Biden addresses nation joined by families of released U.S. prisoners
President Joe Biden addressed the nation today, with the families of newly released U.S. prisoners at his side, to say that the four U.S. residents will soon be "wheels up on their way home to see their families.”
“Now, their brutal ordeal is over and they’re free,” Biden said. “Moments ago, families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia. Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey, and soon they will be wheels up on their way home to see their families.”
"This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here. It’s relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who have been praying for this day for a long time," Biden said. "The deal that made this possible was the feat of diplomacy and friendship."
American reporter 'did nothing wrong,' employer says
With the release of Russian American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, her employer, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said in a statement celebrating her freedom that she was "targeted because she was an American journalist who was simply trying to take care of a family member inside Russia."
"She did nothing wrong and certainly did not deserve the unjust treatment and forced separation from her loving family members and colleagues," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty CEO Stephen Capus said. Kurmasheva had been detained since October on a charge of spreading false information.
Capus said the media outlet still has three other journalists imprisoned in Belarus and Russian-occupied Crimea. "We will not rest until all our unjustly detained journalists are home safe. Journalism is not a crime," he added.
'Paul Whelan is free,' says brother of former U.S. Marine
Whelan's brother thanked President Biden and others for the release of his family member after “Paul was held hostage for 2,043 days.”
"Paul Whelan is free. Our family is grateful to the United States government for making Paul’s freedom a reality. We’d like to thank President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and National Security Advisor Sullivan for their engagement with the Russian Federation to create the environment where Paul’s freedom became a possibility," David Whelan said in a statement today.
He went on to thank members of Congress and people who supported his brother’s release "from across the globe."
"There is no way to thank the many Americans and others who helped and gave hope to Paul from afar, writing letters and donating to his GoFundMe prison account," he said in the statement. "We are grateful for the assistance that, like Paul’s extended family, came from across the globe."
David Whelan also said that "we were discouraged from speaking out about Paul’s case."
"But we believe the media attention has been a crucial factor in securing Paul’s freedom," he said. “Those first years were hard when the Trump Administration ignored Paul’s wrongful detention, and it was media attention that helped to finally create critical mass and awareness within the U.S. government.”
“Paul Whelan is not in a Russian labor colony any longer, but he is not home,” his brother said. “While Paul was wrongfully imprisoned in Russia, he lost his home. He lost his job. We are unsure how someone overcomes these losses and rejoins society after being a hostage.”
David Whelen ended his statement reiterating, “we are grateful for everyone’s efforts to help Paul while he was away” and asked for space and privacy for his brother.
Blinken: Release of prisoners was achieved through ‘extraordinary efforts’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the release of the four U.S. residents today that "through the extraordinary efforts of countless people in the State Department and across our government, the United States was able to strike an agreement to secure their freedom, as well as that of Vladimir Kara-Murza and twelve others held prisoner inside Russia."
Blinken said the U.S. was grateful for the support from allies that made the deal possible and appreciated the Turkish government for providing a location for the safe return of individuals to the U.S. and Germany.
"Through many difficult conversations over the past several years, I told the families of those wrongfully detained in Russia that we would not forget them," Blinken said. "I know there are many times over those years where they have wondered if our work would ever bear fruit. But I also know that they never gave up hope, and neither did we."
"My pledge to the families of those still separated from their families is the same that I made to those returning home today," he said. "We will not forget you, and we will not rest until you see your loved ones again."
These are the Americans and U.S. resident freed by the Russians
Three Americans and one permanent U.S. resident were among those freed from Russian captivity Thursday in one the biggest prisoner exchanges since the Cold War — a feat of dogged diplomacy that involved half-a-dozen countries and took months to pull off.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was convicted in July of espionage after what the U.S. government and his employer called a sham trial, was released after months of public campaigning by his newspaper, family and fellow journalists from around the world.
The cause of former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 and convicted of espionage, was championed largely by his family and he was freed after having already served four years of a 16-year sentence in a grim Russian prison.
Two more of the released prisoners are also journalists: Vladimir Kara-Murza, a dual Russian British national critical of the Kremlin, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian American reporter with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who is also a permanent resident of the U.S.
Biden says U.S. prisoners ‘who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home’
President Joe Biden said in a statement today that the three Americans and one American green-card holder "who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home."
"The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country," Biden said. "Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over."
Biden said he was grateful to the U.S. allies "who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey."
"This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer," the president said.
Biden said he "will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family" and that his administration has brought home more than 70 such Americans, "many of whom were in captivity since before I took office."
"Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home," he said.
"Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families," Biden said. "We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong."
White House official says prisoner exchange is ‘historic’
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that today’s prisoner exchange was “historic.”
“Not since the Cold War has there been a similar number of individuals exchanged in this way and there has never, so far as we know, been an exchange involving so many countries, so many close U.S. partners and allies working together,” Sullivan said on a call with reporters.
“It’s the culmination of many rounds of complex, painstaking negotiations over many, many months,” he said.
NSC details names of those involved in prisoner exchange between multiple countries
The White House National Security Council said in a press call today that the three U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident returning home from Russia, include: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and legal permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza.
The 12 German nationals and who will return to Germany, include: Dieter Voronin, Kevin Lick, Rico Krieger, Patrick Schoebel, Herman Moyzhes, Ilya Yashin, Liliya Chanysheva, Kseniya Fadeyeva, Vadim Ostanin, Andrey Pivovarov, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, according to the NSC call.
The individuals returning to Russia, include: Vadim Krasikov (from Germany), Artem Viktorovich Dultsev (from Slovenia), Anna Valerevna Dultseva (from Slovenia), Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin (from Norway), Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov (from Poland), Roman Seleznev (from the U.S.), Vladislav Klyushin (from the U.S.), and Vadim Konoshchenock (from the U.S.).