Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan Greeted By Families, President Biden and VP Harris Upon Return to U.S. From Russia

Whelan and Gershkovich were released as part of the largest prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia since the end of the Cold War

Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are finally back home.

Whelan, a 54-year-old former Marine, spent over five years in a Russian prison after being accused of spying. Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich, 32, was arrested in March 2023 and also found guilty of spying in a Russian court.

The two men were released as part of the largest prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia since the end of the Cold War on Thursday, Aug. 1. After their release, they flew from Moscow to Ankara, Turkey, and then onto Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Also on their flight was Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, a Russian-American journalist who was detained in October 2023 after Russian officials accused her of being a "foreign agent."

Their plane touched down at Joint Base Andrews at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET, where their families, colleagues, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were eagerly awaiting.

Whelan deplaned first, followed by Gershovich and Kurmasheva.

In a joint social media post, the President and the Vice President shared several images from the trio's arrival on American soil, including Biden greeting Whelan and Gershovich as well as Kurmasheva being reunited with her family as they ran toward her and embraced her.

"Tonight is about reuniting families. Welcome home, Paul, Evan, and Alsu. You’re right where you belong," the caption of the post read.

On Thursday afternoon, Biden shared a photo of the former prisoners en route back to the U.S. on X, formerly Twitter.

"After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans detained in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journeys back into the arms of their families," Biden's tweet read.

The families gathered with Biden in the Oval Office for a conference call with the released prisoners while they were in transit. The call was also posted to the President's X account.

"They're all standing around the Oval Office desk here and we just wanted to say how overwhelmed we are," Biden told Whelan, Gershovich, Kurmasheva and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, a green card holder. "You've been wrongfully detained for a long time, and we're glad you're home."

Related: Brittney Griner Responds to the Release of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan from Russian Captivity: 'A Big Win'

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"Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza," Biden said in a statement after their release.

"The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," he continued. "All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia — including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over."

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