America in Brief: Russia Swap Prisoners Back on US Soil

Published on August 3, 2024

Three Americans including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan returned to American soil late Aug. 1 after an extensive prisoner swap with Russia. A total of 24 prisoners have been exchanged as a result of negotiations between eight countries, including Turkey who acted as the mediator in what has been described as the largest prisoner swap between East and West since the cold war. Gershkovich, 32, Whelan, and Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland shortly before midnight and were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before a cheering crowd....

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