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’s Address to the Nation
Biden took a moment to describe the three American citizens and one legal permanent U.S. 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.
Sullivan, who addressed reporters at the White House daily briefing, choked back tears as he emotionally talked about the extensive effort to secure the deal and said it “was vintage Joe Biden rallying American rallying American allies to save American citizens. “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.
“For anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter,” he said. “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. “Later, when asked by a reporter about Trump’s repeated claims he could’ve gotten the hostages out of Russia without concessions, Biden took a more direct jab at his former political opponent.
“Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden responded. 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. “The two top Republicans in Congress issued a joint statement calling the Gershkovich and Whelan release “encouraging news” but then went on to cite the “costs of hostage diplomacy.”
“Without serious action to deter further hostage-taking by Russia, Iran, and other states hostile to the United States, the costs of hostage diplomacy will continue to rise. As we renew our call for the return of all persons wrongfully detained by the Kremlin, we recognize that trading hardened Russian criminals for innocent Americans does little to discourage Putin’s reprehensible behavior,” House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said. Today, we’re bringing home Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir — three American citizens and one American green-card holder.
All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia: Paul for nearly six years, Vladimir since 2022, Evan since March of 2023, and Also since October of 2023.Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials, and sentenced them to long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever. None. Paul, a former Marine, who was in Russia for a wedding
Evan, a journalist, with the Russian — in Russia — was a — was in Russia assigned by the Wall Street Journal’s, also a journalist, was in Russia to see family. All three falsely accused of being spies.
And Vladimir, who is a Russian citizen by birth and holds an American green card, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and was a pallbearer at my friend John McCain’s funeral with me. He spoke out against Putin’s regime, and for that he was convicted of treason. And now their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free. Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia. Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey. And soon, they’ll be wheels up on their way home to see their families.
This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here. And it’s a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who’ve been praying for this day for a long time. The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship — friendship. Multiple countries helped get this done. They joined a difficult, complex negotiations at my request. And I personally thank them all again. And I’ve thanked them personally, and I’ll thank them again.
All told, Russia has released 16 prisoners. Eight Russians who were being held in the West will be sent home as well. Those 16 prisoners from Russia have — that Russia has released include 4 Americans, 5 Germans, 7 Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. One of those Russians runs the human rights organization Memorial, which won a Nobel Prize in 2022. Putin threw him in prison for voicing opposition to the war in Ukraine. Four others worked with Aleksey Navalny, the political opposition leader who died in Russian prison this year.
Now they can live safely abroad and continue their work of advocating for democracy if they so choose. This deal would not have been made possible without our allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. They all stepped up, and they stood with us. They stood with us, and they made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held, and provided logistical support to get the Americans home. So, for anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter.
And today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world — friends you can trust, work with, and depend upon, especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this. Our alliances make our people safer, and we began to see that again today. Let me say this. It says a lot about the United States that we work relentlessly to free Americans who are unjustly held around the world. It also says a lot about us that this deal includes the release of Russian political prisoners.
They stood up for democracy and human rights. Their own leaders threw them in prison. The United States helped secure their release as well. That’s who we are in the United States. 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. I want to thank everyone in my administration who helped make this happen. Our work did not start just on day one. It started before day one.
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 pri- — the prior administration. I wanted to make sure we’d hit the ground running, and we did. 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. Additionally, I issued an executive order in 2022 authorizing penalties like sanctions and travel bans on those who hold Americans against their will.
And my State Department has introduced new warnings for Americans about the risk of being wrongfully detained by a foreign government.Deals like this one come with tough calls, and there are never any guarantees. But there’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad. And so, we’ll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained Americans around the world.
Let me end where I began — with Paul, Evan, and Alsu, Vladimir, and their families. They never gave up hope. We can’t imagine what they’ve been through — all of you. Matter of fact, this lady right here, I think, was living in the Oval Office with us for a while. But all kidding aside, I can’t imagine their joy right now. They’re home. Tomorrow is a big day — the 13th birthday of Miriam. Miriam, where are you? Come here. You all know we have a tradition in the Biden family. We sing “Happy Birthday” on any birthday. You ready? All of you.(Sings “Happy Birthday.”)
Remember, no serious guys until you’re 30. (Laughter.) God love you. She’s Alsu’s daughter. Now she gets to celebrate with her mom. That’s what this is all about: Families able to be together again, like they should have been all along. 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. We’re looking forward to that. God willing, we’re going to be out at Andrews and get that done.
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