President Biden on Thursday celebrated the release of four U.S. residents from Russian imprisonment in the largest multinational prisoner exchange since the Cold War.
The deal, which involved seven nations and 24 people, included the return of reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian-British political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Speaking at the White House, surrounded by the families and loved ones of the hostages, Mr. Biden declared Thursday “a very good afternoon.”
“Their brutal order is over, and they’re free,” the president said, adding that it was an “incredible relief” for their families.
Mr. Biden said the released Americans were able to speak to their family members over the phone as they traveled to the U.S.
The president slammed the convictions of the three journalists included in the deal as “show trials,” adding that their long prison sentences were handed down “with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever, none.”
“All three were falsely accused of being spies,” he said.
The complex deal involved five Germans, seven Russian citizens held in Russia, and eight Russians imprisoned in the U.S., Germany and Slovenia. Mr. Biden praised the other nations involved for their cooperation and efforts to bring the Americans home.
“For anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do,” Mr. Biden said. “Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world. Friends you can trust, work with and depend upon.”
The deal is an example of rare cooperation between the U.S. and Russia amid political hostilities over the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Relations between the two countries had been strained before the war and have only escalated since.
When Mr. Biden was asked if he would reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he responded that he had no reason to do so.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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