On August 2, 2024, the United States and Russia completed the largest post-Soviet prisoner exchange operation in history. Three American citizens arrived in the United States before midnight on Thursday, August 1. President Biden and Vice President Harris welcomed them at the airport with warm embraces, amidst thunderous applause.
Shortly before midnight, journalist Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and dual American-Russian citizen Alsu Kurmasheva landed at a U.S. airport.
On this warm, humid night, the freed Americans greeted friends and family on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, immersing themselves in the moment of returning to the United States.
They took selfies with loved ones, hugged Biden and Harris, gently patting their family members on the back, comforting each other.
Biden even gave Whelan a flag pin from his lapel.
Biden expressed that welcoming liberated Americans to U.S. soil “feels great.” He specifically praised the cooperation of countries like Germany and Slovenia in facilitating the global prisoner exchange.
Despite the celebrations surrounding these exchanges, criticism has also arisen, with concerns that they may encourage hostage-taking by U.S. adversaries.
Speaking at Joint Base Andrews, Biden dismissed the idea that these exchanges could lead to the detention of other Americans.
“I disagree with that notion…letting these people rot in prison just because others might get arrested,” Biden said.
Harris stated that the agreement “extraordinarily demonstrates the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy.”
Amidst the U.S.-Russia tensions heightened by the Russia-Ukraine war, negotiations for this exchange still managed to proceed.
In this prisoner swap, Russia agreed to release 16 prisoners, including 4 American citizens and residents, 5 Germans, and 7 Russian citizens considered political prisoners by Russia.
During secret negotiations, the U.S. initially sought the release of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but after his death in February, a deal was reached involving 24 individuals from 7 countries. The agreement necessitated significant concessions from European allies, including the release of a convicted Russian assassin.
At a White House press conference, Biden called the exchange a “diplomatic feat.” He said, “To me, nothing is more important than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”
However, the transaction reflects the inequality in negotiations between democratic countries and authoritarian regimes. The U.S. and allies handed over Russians accused or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for journalists and dissidents imprisoned in Russia for political reasons.
Under the agreement, Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, who was imprisoned in 2023 and convicted of espionage in July, a charge both he and the U.S. government vehemently deny. His family expressed eagerness to give him a big hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close.
Also released was Whelan, a Michigan security executive who had been imprisoned since 2018 on espionage charges which both he and the U.S. deny, and Kurmasheva, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Kurmasheva had been sentenced in July for spreading false information about the Russian military, a charge denied by her family and employer.
Among the released dissidents was Russian Vladimir Kara-Murza, a critic of the Kremlin and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, who was imprisoned for 25 years for alleged treason.
Other released individuals include allies of Navalny such as Kremlim critic Oleg Orlov and Ilya Yashin, imprisoned for criticizing the war in Ukraine.
Russia gained Vadim Krasikov, who in 2021 was convicted in Germany and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park, reportedly on orders from Moscow’s security services.
Throughout the negotiations, Moscow consistently demanded his release, a request personally endorsed by Putin.
Russia also received two suspects detained in Slovenia for espionage, as well as three men indicted by U.S. federal authorities, including convicted hacker and son of a Russian legislator Roman Seleznev and Russian agent Vadim Konoshchenok suspected of supplying U.S. made electronic products and ammunition to the Russian military.
Norway released a detained scholar suspected of being a Russian spy, while Poland repatriated a man detained on espionage charges.
In total, six countries released at least one prisoner, with Turkey serving as the seventh country participating in the exchange.
Biden remarked, “Today is a powerful example of why having friends in this world is crucial.”
The Biden administration has brought back over seventy detained Americans from other countries. Simultaneously, the U.S. extradited many convicted felons, including those involved in drug and weapon offenses.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jon Finer told CNN that despite the exchange conducted on Thursday, U.S.-Russia relations remain in a “very difficult place.”
Finer stated, “Trust is not a component of this relationship or negotiation,” emphasizing that every detail of the operation was “verified.”
“At the end of the day, we made a decision, and we value American lives,” Finer remarked, “This is not something to apologize for.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement, calling the release of innocent Americans and Russian political prisoners from wrongful detention a heartening development. They continued to urge for the release of all Americans unfairly held.
“Their unjust imprisonment will remain a lasting reminder of how the Russian government has long feared free people and a free press. The continued detention of American citizens and innocent Russians is proof of Putin’s hostility towards the U.S. and contempt for the rule of law.”
They concluded, “Without serious action to deter countries like Russia, Iran, and others hostile to the U.S. from further hostage-taking, the cost of hostage diplomacy will continue to rise.”