August 1, 2024
WASHINGTON DC — The White House reported that today August 1, 2024, 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.
The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. 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.
I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer.
President Biden said, “And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home.
Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman stated in a Twitter post that Evan Gershkovich is on his way home! After being held 16 months on false charges of espionage, journalist Evan Gershkovich will be freed. Grateful to everyone at the State Dept for their work to make this day happen.
Governor Phil Murphy stated “I am thrilled to hear that, after over a year of detention, Evan Gershkovich has been freed from Russia. Evan is a New Jersey native and Princeton High School graduate who was wrongfully convicted of espionage by the brutal Putin regime — a pawn in a politically-motivated game. I am praying for his safety and health as he returns home to his family and reacclimates to life back in the U.S. I’d like to thank President Biden and our allies involved in this complex, multilateral negotiation for their work in bringing Evan and other wrongfully detained Americans home.”
P. Kenneth Burns, president of the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists, regarding the release of Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich:
“We are relieved to know that Evan Gershkovich is a free man from an unjust conviction in a rigged court trial. NJ-SPJ also celebrate with our colleagues at the Wall Street Journal, who have done a great job advocating for their reporter while honoring his work at the Journal at the same time.
We also want to reiterate to political leaders abroad, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and here in New Jersey: JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME.”
Today, we remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families:We see you.We are with you.
And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.