WATCH: Biden welcomes Gershkovich and Whelan on US soil after years in Russian prison

Biden welcomes American detainees onto US soil after years in Russian prison

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed journalist Evan Gershkovich, fellow American Paul Whelan and two others onto U.S. soil at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday night in the biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history.

Gershkovich had lived in Russia for six years prior to his arrest, and was detained in March of last year. Whelan was arrested by Russian authorities in December 2018, and told WTOP’s JJ Green in 2023 that he feared the U.S. government would overlook him again.

The U.S. exchanged former FSB Col. Vadim Krasikov, conspiracist Vadim Konoshchenok, hackers Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznev, and a host of other Russians charged with espionage.


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