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Agreement with Russia/ 3 prisoners return to the USA

2024-08-02 08:10:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, and Paul Whelan – the three US citizens released in the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War – have returned to the United States, where they were welcomed by US President Joe Biden and their families in Joint Base Andrews, near Washington DC.

They were part of a group of 16 prisoners that Russia and its close ally, Belarus, released in exchange for eight Russians being held by the United States and several other countries.

Biden, who earlier in the day called the exchange historic during a White House press conference, welcomed them along with Vice President Kamala Harris as family members, colleagues and the media looked on.

Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe, Gershkovich, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, and Whelan, a former US Marine, are all US citizens.

Whelan was the first to exit the plane and was immediately hugged by Biden, followed by Gershkovich, who was greeted with applause as he hugged the president.

Kurmashova was the last of this trio to get off the plane and she, too, was hugged by Biden and welcomed with applause from the crowd gathered there.

Asked what he would say to Putin after the exchange, the president replied: "Enough," referring to the Americans being taken into custody on dubious charges.

"I don't agree with that idea ... let these people rot in jail because other people might get caught," the president added, dismissing criticism that such exchanges could lead to other Americans being jailed.

Earlier, Biden said "significant concessions" were needed from Germany for the prisoner swap after it freed FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted of killing a former Chechen militant in Berlin in 2019.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, with Russian and British citizenship, was also included in the exchange, who was imprisoned because of critical comments about the complete occupation of Ukraine by Russia.

After spending time with their families and friends, Kurmasheva, Gershkovich and Whelan will travel to San Antonio, Texas, for medical treatment and questioning by US officials.

The release of 16 people from Russia and Belarus included five German citizens and seven Russians who were political prisoners in their countries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the decision to release Krasikov was difficult. But he said it had to be assessed whether the state's interest in punishing him was greater than "the risk faced by innocent people in Russian prisons and political prisoners".

Biden said that Germany did not ask for anything in return for this decision.

Poland, Slovenia and Norway also played roles in exchange, releasing the Russians they were holding to Moscow.

NATO ally Turkey, which also has good relations with Moscow, was prominently involved in facilitating the prisoner exchange talks, as the exchange took place in Ankara. /REL