Now back on US soil, Americans released in Russian prisoner exchange

Yesterday, four former prisoners, including American reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan, were released from Russia and returned to American soil Thursday night.

The Americans freed by Russia during the large prisoner swap arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the tarmac.

"The United States of America has no limits if we collaborate," Biden said to reporters on the tarmac after meeting with the freed prisoners. "There's nothing beyond our capacity."

Three Americans and an American green-card holder were released from Russian prison.

The quartet of released prisoners did not speak to reporters but were greeted and hugged by loved ones. Gershkovich was seen hugging several people, many of whom may have been colleagues from the Wall Street Journal. The newly-released prisoners are now scheduled to fly to San Antonio, Texas, for further medical evaluation.

"This is an incredible day, and you can see it in the families," Harris said while addressing reporters, stepping in to thank the president for his actions.

On March 29, 2023, a 32-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains. The charges against him were espionage.

In December 2018, Whelan was sentenced to prison for espionage-related charges, which he and the U.S. government had always disputed.

In exchange for the release of eight American prisoners, Russia negotiated the swap of 24 prisoners across multiple countries.