After months of uncertainty, Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan have finally returned to the United States. Their journey back home came to a triumphant end on Thursday night as they landed on U.S. soil following a historic prisoner swap.
The Americans’ flight, which departed from Ankara, Turkey, around 8:00 PM local time, touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland just before midnight.
The trip, which took about 10 hours, followed a shorter flight from Moscow to Ankara.
Gershkovich, a 32-year-old reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was seen boarding the plane in Turkey, marking a significant moment in his long ordeal.
Gershkovich had been detained in Russia on March 29 of last year on accusations of espionage while working as a journalist.
Paul Whelan, a 54-year-old former Marine, was sentenced to 16 years in 2020 after being arrested two years earlier on suspicion of spying.
The swap, described as the largest East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War, also saw the release of Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Kurmasheva, sentenced to over six years in a rapid, secret trial in Russia last month, was seen joyfully reuniting with her family upon her release.
Just before the plane’s arrival, President Joe Biden and his motorcade arrived at the landing area, with Vice President Kamala Harris arriving separately.
Several Wall Street Journal employees were present, eagerly awaiting the return of their colleague after a grueling year and a half. The freed individuals were greeted warmly by Biden and Harris on the tarmac, exchanging handshakes and brief conversations with the cheering crowd.
Presidential Remarks
Earlier in the day, President Biden, who played a crucial role in negotiating the release, made a statement from the White House alongside the hostages’ families.
He informed them directly of their loved ones’ landing, sharing the news that their ordeal had finally come to an end. Biden described the multi-nation agreement, involving seven countries, as a remarkable achievement of diplomacy and friendship.