Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmashev were released in a historic East-West prisoner swap involving 24 people across six countries. Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 by Russian officials on espionage charges, was greeted by President Joe Biden upon his arrival in the U.S. He advised others held abroad to “hang in there” and expressed relief and disbelief at his release.
Gershkovich, who had been detained in Russia since early 2023, also expressed gratitude for his release and the opportunity to see other political prisoners on the bus. Both Whelan and Gershkovich were sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, which they and the U.S. government vehemently denied.
Whelan and Gershkovich landed at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, with Whelan expressing a desire to recuperate and gratitude for being back on American soil. Gershkovich greeted Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a positive attitude, stating that it felt good to be home. Both men shared their relief at being released and their eagerness to move on from their ordeals abroad.
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