This image released by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right, and Paul Whelan, second from right, and others onboard a plane after their release from Russian captivity
Thomas Mackintosh
BBC News
Three Americans including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who were freed in a prisoner swap deal with Russia, have arrived back on US soil.
Mr Gershkovich, 32, was one of 16 prisoners swapped for eight Russian prisoners in what has been described as the biggest exchange since the end of the Cold War between Russia and the West.
The exchange at an airfield in Turkey also included the release of former US marine Paul Whelan, and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
After touching down at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, Mr Gershkovich, Ms Kurmasheva and Mr Whelan emerged from the jet to cheers from those on the tarmac.
Image source, Reuters
Evan Gershkovich was met by Vice-President Kamala Harris as he stepped off the plane in Maryland
All three were greeted by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris – before embracing their families.
Speaking ahead of their return, Mr Biden welcomed their release and declared: ‘Their brutal ordeal is over.”
He praised the role played by America’s allies, particularly Germany and Slovenia, and hailed the release of Mr Whelan, Mr Gershkovich, Ms Kurmasheva as well as leading Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza as a “feat of diplomacy”.
The three released Americans will be transported to the Brooke Army Medical Centre in Texas for a medical check-up.
The deal had been more than 18 months in the making and appears to have hinged on Moscow’s demand for the return of Vadim Krasikov – who was serving a life sentence in Germany for carrying out an assassination in a Berlin park.
He is now back in Russia.
In total, 26 people from prisons in seven different countries were exchanged in Ankara, Turkey’s presidency said.
The prisoners were from the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus, it said in a statement.
Ten people, including two minors, were relocated to Russia, 13 prisoners to Germany, and three to the US, the statement added.
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