President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that Russian authorities have released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich along with two other American citizens and an American green-card holder as part of a sweeping prisoner swap.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Well, good afternoon, and this is a very good afternoon, a very good afternoon.
00:07Today we're bringing home Paul, Evan, Alsu, Vladimir, three American citizens and one
00:13American green card holder.
00:15All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia.
00:19Their brutal ordeal is over, and they're free.
00:24Months ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval
00:30Office.
00:31They're out of Russia.
00:32Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey, and soon they'll be wheels up on their way
00:36home to see their families.
00:39This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here.
00:43It's relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who've been praying
00:48for this day for a long time.
00:50The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship, friendship.
00:57Multiple countries helped get this done.
01:00They joined the difficult, complex negotiations at my request, and I personally thank them
01:06all again.
01:07I thank them personally, and I thank them again.
01:09All told, Russia has released 16 prisoners.
01:13Eight Russians who are being held in the West will be sent home as well.
01:18These 16 prisoners from Russia that Russia has released include four Americans, five
01:23Germans, seven Russian citizens who are political prisoners in their own country.