Russia-US prisoner swap: Biden hails relief of returning Evan Gershkovich in historic exchange
US president Joe Biden was surrounded by the families of those that have been released today as he spoke from the White House
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US president Joe Biden has described the “relief” he felt as three US citizens and one green card-holder were finally freed from Russian captivity today.
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza are among the 16 prisoners freed from Russian captivity, the rest of which will be returning to Europe. In return, Russian murderers and cyber terrorists have been returned to Moscow.
Speaking from the White House alongside the families of the four that had been freed back to the US, Biden said: “This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here. It’s a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who have been praying for this day for a long time.”
He added that “friendship and diplomacy” had been key to the exchange.
“The deal that made this possible was the feat of diplomacy and friendship. Friendship, multiple countries helped get this done. They joined difficult, complex negotiations at my request, and I personally thank them all again.”
Navalny was supposed to be part of swap, says Sullivan
Alexei Navalny, the face of the Russian opposition, was supposed to be part of the prisoner swap before he died in February, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan has revealed.
Mr Navalny died during his imprisonment in an Arctic Circle penal colony in what the West and his allies say was murder.
Navalny’s team claimed what Sullivan has now confirmed back in March after his opposition figure’s death.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s former press secretary, said after the news today: “Remember everyone who said in February that the exchange was a fiction, and never believe them.”
Second photo shows freed US citizens from Russia
US president Joe Biden has shared a second photo of the US citizens freed from Russia.
Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza? The Putin critic involved in US-Russia prisoner swapv
Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza? The Putin critic involved in US-Russia prisoner swap
Vladimir Kara-Murza was handed a 25-year sentence in a Siberian penal colony for speaking out against the war in Ukraine . He is now free
Kremlin releases footage of Evan Gershkovich in prisoner exchange
This blog is now closed
This blog is now closed.
You can read our coverage throughout the day below.
Photos show inside Evan Gershkovich’s release
Photos taken from Russian state media appear to show the process of US journalist Evan Gershkovitch’s release.
White House: No money was exchanged in East-West prisoner exchange
No money was exchanged as part of the biggest East-West prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday.
Sullivan added that no sanctions were loosened to facilitate the deal.
This prisoner swap is a triumph – but it could be a sign of something even more profound
Prisoner swap is a triumph, but it may be a sign of something greater | Mary Dejevsky
There’s no doubt of the significance of the return of Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Paul Whelan and others, writes Mary Dejevsky – an even more optimistic interpretation might see a signal from Putin to the West that Russia is open to serious talks on the war in Ukraine
Locked up for opposing Putin: Inside Vladimir Kara-Murza’s brutal prison ordeal
As Vladimir Kara-Murza heads home to his family in the US, we remind you of the brutal ordeal of his imprisonment in Russia.
Locked up for opposing Putin: Inside Vladimir Kara-Murza’s brutal prison ordeal
The British-Russian dissident was arrested in April 2022 for speaking out against Valdimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. He is now serving a 25-year sentence and his wife, Evgenia, does not know when she will be able to speak to him again. Tom Watling reports
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