U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were released by Russia as part of a prisoner swap deal with the United States. They arrived in the US on August 1, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The release of these prisoners, negotiated as part of a 24-person exchange involving at least six countries, was the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. Biden praised the swap as a diplomatic achievement that ended the prisoners’ suffering. In total, 10 Russians, including two minors, were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians imprisoned in Russia. The release of Gershkovich, Whelan, and Kurmasheva, along with others, marked a significant moment in East-West relations, representing the biggest prisoner swap between the two sides since the Cold War. The prisoners’ arrival in the US was a moment of relief and joy for their families and friends, who had been waiting for their return. Overall, the exchange was seen as a positive step towards improving diplomatic relations between the US and Russia.
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