US President Joe Biden Announces Release of American Prisoners from Russia in Major Diplomatic Win
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who had been detained in Russia for over 16 months, was released on Thursday as part of a complex prisoner swap involving multiple countries. Gershkovich, who was arrested in Moscow in March 2023 on charges of espionage, was freed in Turkey, marking a significant diplomatic achievement.
Gershkovich, 32, hails from New Jersey and is known for his proficiency in Russian, which he learned from his parents. After graduating from Bowdoin College in Maine, he began his journalism career at the New York Times before moving to Russia in 2017.
Breaking : The Biden / Kamala Harris team have successfully facilitated the liberation of U.S. Marine, Paul Whelan, and Wall Street Journalist, Evan Gershkovich, from Russia. Even Putin agreed to this and didn't wait for Donald Trump's re-election. pic.twitter.com/woLFmwApEZ
— Sophie Rain Thread 🔥❤️ (@SophieRainForum) August 1, 2024
There, he worked for the Moscow Times and Agence France-Presse before joining the Wall Street Journal in January 2022. Gershkovich’s reporting took a dramatic turn following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the journalist covering the unfolding conflict.
On March 29, 2023, Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, while dining at a restaurant. Russian authorities charged him with collecting sensitive military information for the CIA, alleging that he was spying on Uralvagonzavod, a factory producing tanks for the Ukraine war. The Kremlin claimed that Gershkovich was caught in the act of espionage, but both the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government vehemently denied these accusations.
In July 2024, Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison after a secret trial. The U.S. government, along with international diplomats, engaged in extensive negotiations to secure his release. The swap involved several countries and was finalized in Turkey, where Gershkovich was handed over to U.S. officials on Thursday.
President Biden’s Statement on the Prisoner Exchange
On Thursday, President Joe Biden addressed the recent prisoner exchange that not only secured the release of Evan Gershkovich but also freed other American citizens, including former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. Speaking from the State Dining Room of the White House, Biden declared, “Their agony is over.”
“Today, three American citizens and one American green card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza,” Biden stated. He confirmed that the released prisoners include 16 individuals from Russia: four Americans, five Germans, and seven Russian political prisoners. Biden emphasized that “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 shared that he had spoken with the families of the released prisoners, who are now “wheels up” and returning to the U.S. He noted, “Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.” He expressed immense relief for the families and friends who had been anxiously awaiting this moment.
Biden also extended his gratitude to the nations involved in the swap, describing it as the largest since the Cold War. “The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship,” he added, surrounded by the relieved family members of those released.
Donald Trump’s Statement and Public Reactions
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously claimed that Gershkovich would be released only if he was re-elected. Trump suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin would act favorably towards him but not to other leaders. However, with Gershkovich’s release occurring before the next U.S. election, Trump’s prediction was proven incorrect.
Ahahaha.
Russia just released journalist Gershkovich — which Trump said Putin would only did if he wins the election:
“Vladimir Putin…Will do that for me, and I don't believe he'll do it for anyone else”
Thank you President Biden!!
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) August 1, 2024
Anti-Trump commentators were quick to point out that even Putin did not wait for Trump’s re-election. Some praised President Joe Biden for his role in securing Gershkovich’s release, highlighting the success of Biden’s diplomatic efforts.
Now free, Evan Gershkovich is expected to return to the United States to reunite with his family. His release comes as a relief to many, marking the end of a challenging chapter for the journalist who became the first American reporter to be detained in Russia since the Cold War.
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