General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBloomberg: Gershkovich and Whelan have been freed
The article is paywalled, but the first paragraph is available:
LINK: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-01/us-reporter-released-by-russia-in-multi-country-prisoner-swap
EDIT: Also being reported by CNN and others:
LINK: https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/01/politics/russia-us-prisoner-swap/index.html
dalton99a
(83,913 posts)Beetwasher.
(3,131 posts)LOL
Hugin
(34,420 posts)Johnny2X2X
(21,417 posts)This is amazing! Whelan has been there a long time.
Prairie Gates
(2,580 posts)despite his self-proclaimed close relationship with Putin.
newdeal2
(800 posts)Haha
dchill
(40,146 posts)blm
(113,755 posts)Johnny2X2X
(21,417 posts)If he still thought Trumpwas going to win, he holds out because he knows he could get a lot more for them with Trump. Trump would have literally traded Zelensky and all of Ukraine for them.
Sometimes DU is buggy.
servermsh
(1,373 posts)MissB
(16,024 posts)I think it was Pod Save the Worlds podcast that was just talking about those two this past week.
No one should be traveling to Russia right now.
Johnny2X2X
(21,417 posts)Perhaps he'll try to take credit.
Prairie Gates
(2,580 posts)He said he would concentrate on freeing the hostages in Gaza and Americans held prisoner elsewhere in the world. It was a clear reference to Russia.
Bravo, Mr. President!
yardwork
(63,747 posts)malaise
(277,353 posts)CONvicted felon.
niyad
(119,182 posts)Ohio Joe
(21,894 posts)niyad
(119,182 posts)Im watching msnbc right now and they just said nobody is confirmed yet so I guess well see. I expect President Biden will speak before long.
niyad
(119,182 posts)Fla Dem
(25,545 posts)angrychair
(9,624 posts)He is a disgraced Marine and criminal. I just hope I normal person didn't get left in prison to save his worthless ass
BonnieJW
(2,492 posts)I thought he was a good guy. What did he do?
angrychair
(9,624 posts)From the Marines because he was, among other things, stealing Marine equipment and re-selling it as well as identity theft and passing bad checks.
lindysalsagal
(22,297 posts)Thanks, also to the many tireless diplomats They've dedicated their lives for these fleeting moments.
tavernier
(13,200 posts)Hes such a stud muffin.
LetMyPeopleVote
(153,746 posts)This was a very complex deal involving multiple countries. It took a world leader like President Biden to pull off this deal
Link to tweet
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/01/russia-us-prisoner-swap/
Those to be released included American journalist Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, who was accused of espionage without any known evidence, and Paul Whelan, a former Marine jailed for more than five years after an espionage conviction the United States called baseless, as well as several Russian dissidents who demanded freedom and democracy or criticized the war in Ukraine, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Opinions contributor.
The prisoners were released from the jails of seven countries: the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus, the Turkish presidential office said, adding that they were brought to Turkey by seven planes, two from the United States and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia.
marti
(31 posts)kudos to Biden and our state department
wolfie001
(3,466 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(153,746 posts)Link to tweet
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/01/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-securing-the-release-of-americans-detained-in-russia/
The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, weve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russiaincluding 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 its vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer.
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.
###
quakerboy
(14,097 posts)I will wait for the deal to actually be done before making anything of this deal.
Trump allies such as Putin and Bibi are not honest players and would love nothing better than to damage our country and our president to try and help their stooge back to power.;