Putin keeps taking Americans hostage to use as pawns to get Russian criminals released by western countries. The difference in these prisoners is that the Russians being held on charges in the West are truly violent criminals while the prisoners being held in Russia are being held on trumped up charges. Here is the latest... looks Gershkovich and Whelan will be getting out of Russia in a large multi-country prisoner swap. Still waiting on news on who else is being released; I assume it includes the violent Russian criminal being held by Germany. WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich being released by Russia in prisoner swap; Paul Whelan also being freed Gershkovich, an American reporter, was detained by Russia for 70 weeks prior to his release https://www.foxnews.com/media/wsj-r...ia-prisoner-swap-paul-whelan-also-being-freed
Biden tells Americans freed from Russian detention, 'Welcome almost home' The president touted the large prisoner swap as a "feat of diplomacy." https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bid...ully-detained-russia-agony/story?id=112475052 President Joe Biden on Thursday celebrated an extraordinary prisoner exchange that freed several Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, calling it a “feat of diplomacy and friendship” in remarks from the White House. Biden was surrounded by family members of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza as he spoke about the efforts involved in the swap, which is the largest since the Cold War involving 24 people and several countries. “This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here,” Biden said. “It's a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country, who’ve been praying for this day for a long time.” Biden took a moment to describe the three American citizens and one legal permanent resident being brought back to the U.S. He said each was arrested, convicted and sentenced by Russian authorities “ with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever.” “And now their brutal ordeal is over and they're free,” Biden said. Biden, who officials said was directly involved in helping negotiate the deal, had gathered the families at the White House earlier Thursday to inform them that the release was underway. Biden said he and the families were able to contact the freed Americans over the phone. When asked what he said to them, Biden replied: “I said, ‘Welcome almost home.’” The multipart prisoner swap is the product of months of detailed, painstaking negotiations, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The nations involved also included Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. A senior administration official said even the day Biden announced he was no longer seeking a second term, he was on the phone working to secure this deal. Biden, in his remarks, touted his administration's work and the power of global alliances while also seemingly criticizing his Oval Office predecessor Donald Trump. “Our work did not start just on Day 1. It started before Day 1,” Biden said. “During the transition, I instructed our national security team to dig into all the cases of hostages being wrongfully detained, which were inherently -- well, we inherited them from the private -- the prior administration.” “I wanted to make sure we hit the ground running, and we did,” Biden continued. “As of today, my administration has brought home over 70 Americans, who were wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. Many since before I took office.” Speaking further on Thursday’s release, Biden noted several of the 16 individuals freed on Thursday were Russian political prisoners who “stood up for democracy and human rights” and were subsequently jailed by their own leaders. He took a moment to contrast that with the work of the U.S. and its partners. “The United States helped secure their release as well. That's who we are in the United States,” he said. “We stand for freedom, for liberty, for justice, not only for our own people, but for others as well. And that's why all Americans can take pride in what we've achieved today.” As he closed his remarks, Biden turned back to the families gathered in the State Dining Room, saying he couldn’t imagine what they’ve endured these last few years. He then led the singing of “Happy Birthday" to Miriam, the daughter of Kurmasheva, an American-Russian journalist who was freed on Thursday. Biden said Mariam will turn 13 on Friday and will now be able to celebrate with her mother. "That's what this is all about. Families able to be together again, like they should have been all along," Biden said. "So, I want to thank you again to everyone who did their part. In just a few hours, we'll welcome home our fellow Americans."
REPORTER TO BIDEN: "Trump said he could've gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange. What do you say to him? BIDEN: "Why didn't he do it when he was president?" ‘Mic Drop Moment’: Biden Dismantles Trump’s Hostage Rescue Claims With Stinging Reply https://dailyboulder.com/mic-drop-m...ps-hostage-rescue-claims-with-stinging-reply/
Bicycle assassins and teenagers: The full list of prisoners released in historic Russia-US swap https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-n...-swap-united-states-germany-evan-gershkovich/
It's time for your doctors appointment. 'I got back many hostages!' Trump rages as Biden takes victory lap At the conclusion of a press conference detailing the swap with Russia to return American prisoners to the U.S., including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, President Joe Biden nailed Donald Trump for leaving one of them in jail when he was in office. With Whelan finally returning home after being arrested in 2018 — midway during the Trump presidency — Biden was asked on the way out what he had to say to the former president who has been promising to get the hostages released if he is re-elected again. "'The president [Trump] said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything," Biden was pressed. "What do you say to that? What do you say to President Trump — now former president?" "Why didn't he do it when he was president?' Biden shot back with a smile as one reporter could be heard laughing.
Putin’s hitman, spies and a credit card fraudster: The prisoners returned to Russia in historic swap While there is only one known assassin among them, all of the Russians exchanged in Thursday’s trade have unique, and in most cases, quite surreal, backstories, reports Justin Rohrlich https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/russian-prisoner-swap-putin-gershkovich-b2590338.html