Welcoming Freed US Citizens In Prisoner Swap, President Biden: You're Where You Should Be

President Biden discussed with Paul Whelan accompanied by Vice President Harris. (Twitter @POTUS)

JAKARTA - President Joe Biden warmly welcomed Paul Whelan, after he descended the steps of the Bombardier Global 7500 carrying him after landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, nearly midnight local time Thursday.

A moment later, the former US marine was greeted by Vice President Kamala Harris before meeting his family.

As President Biden joined Whelan and his family, Vice President Harris warmly welcomed journalist Evan Gershkovich who was down the stairs, before President Biden joined in greeting him. Evan then greeted the family members who were waiting.

Next, it was the turn of Alsu Kurmasheva journalists who descended the steps, before being greeted by President Biden and Vice President Harris followed by a small discussion of the three. The family who had been waiting for Alasu was cheerful when he finally got back and gathered together.

President Biden and Vice President Harris re-discussed with Whelan, before removing the US flag pin he was wearing and wearing to Whelan.

"Tonight is about reuniting the family," President Biden tweeted on social media X, as quoted August 2.

"Welcome back, Paul, Evan and Alsu. You are where you should be," he continued.

Join @VP and me as we greet Americans freed from Russia at Joint Base Andrews. https://t.co/0B5iOzYKk0

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 2, 2024

Join @VP and me as we greet Americans freed from Russia at Joint Base Andrews. https://t.co/0B5iOzYKk0

The trio, along with Russian dissident and US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza, arrived in the US hours after being released from Russian custody, in the largest exchange of prisoners between the two countries since the Cold War.

"The agreement that guarantees the freedom of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir is a diplomatic achievement," President Biden tweeted earlier.

"Overall, we have negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia, some of whom have been unfairly detained over the years," he continued.

"They have all suffered inconceivable suffering. Today, their suffering has ended," President Biden wrote.

The White House said it was negotiating the exchange of prisoners this time with Russia, Germany and three other countries. Belarus, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia were also involved in the deal. Turkey coordinates the exchange.

"The agreement we made to bring home Americans who were unfairly detained would not have been possible without our allies," President Biden wrote. "They are stepping forward and supporting us. So, for anyone who questions whether allies are important, today is a strong example of why it is so important to have friends in this world," he continued.

The deal, which was carried out in secret for more than a year, involved 24 detainees, 16 transferred from Russia to the West and eight sent back to Russia from the West.

That includes Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted of killing a dissident exiled in Berlin, the German government said.

"Today's agreement includes the release of seven Russian political prisoners. They defend democracy and their own leaders who throw them in prison," President Biden tweeted. "We help secure their release because we support freedom, not only for our own people, but also for others," he continued. "That's our identity," he said.

The deal gave the Biden-Harris Administration great diplomatic success in the presidential campaign, in which Harris will face Republican representative Donald Trump.

It is known that the last major prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia, in 2010, involved 14 prisoners.

In December 2022, the two countries exchanged between US basketball star Brittney Griner - who was sentenced to nine years for a vape cartridge containing marijuana oil in his suitcase - with arms trader Viktor Bout, who served 25 years.