Written By Lisa Murimi
In a dramatic culmination of diplomatic efforts, three Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have returned to the US after being released in a major prisoner swap with Russia.
The exchange, described as the most significant since the Cold War, saw 16 prisoners swapped for eight Russians.
Gershkovich, 32, who had been detained by Russia, was joined in the exchange by former US marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
The trio arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to a hero’s welcome, greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. A touching moment saw Gershkovich embracing his mother, Ella Milman, upon disembarking.
The swap, which took place at an airfield in Turkey, involved a total of 24 prisoners from seven countries. Among those returned to Russia was Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany for a Berlin assassination.
The deal, 18 months in the making, underscores the complex diplomatic landscape amid rising tensions between Russia and the West.
The US government praised the role of allies in facilitating the exchange and highlighted it as a significant achievement in international diplomacy. The released Americans will undergo medical evaluations at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas.
