President Biden: Remarks on Americans returning home from Russia in prisoner swap

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• Families have spoken to loved ones after release from Russia
• 16 prisoners have been released. 4 American, 5 Germans and 7 Russian citizens held wrongly
• Allies made bold and brace decisions as part of this deals
• Allies matter.
• Russian political prisoners included in the deal stood up for democracy and human rights.

Other details:

• Russia frees Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, along with more than a dozen others, in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
• Swap Details: Exchange included Russians held in the U.S. and Europe, including a convicted murderer, Vadim Krasikov.
• Logistics: Gershkovich and other Americans landed in Turkey, marking the end of over a year of imprisonment on false espionage charges.
• Key Figures Released: Former Marine Paul Whelan, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza among those freed by Russia.
• Biden’s Statement: President Biden called the deal a “feat of diplomacy,” highlighting the suffering endured by the unjustly detained.
• Diplomatic Moves: CIA Director William Burns and Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, played pivotal roles in securing the swap.
• Historic Context: The deal reflects a new era of state-sponsored hostage-taking by autocratic regimes.
• Other Key Developments: Included was a plea for Marc Fogel, a history teacher still detained in Russia, serving a 14-year sentence for medical marijuana possession.

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.