US-Russia prisoner swap: Emotional scenes as Evan Gershkovich reunited with family

After spending almost 500 days in a Russian jail, Evan Gershkovich has been reunited with his family and greeted by US President Joe Biden as he touched down in his home country. See the photos.

American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been warmly welcomed home by his family after he was freed from a Russian jail in the largest prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War.

The Wall Street Journal reporter – who spent 491 days locked up on false espionage charges – landed in Maryland with fellow journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and former Marine Paul Whelan, two other victims of Russia’s hostage diplomacy.

US President Joe Biden was also on hand to greet them, having said he could “think of nothing more consequential” than the high-stakes deal to bring home wrongfully detained Americans.

“Now their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free,” he said.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich. Picture: AFP

U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich, a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives in the US. Picture: AFP

In emotional scenes, Mr Whelan was the first to walk off the plane, saluting Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and shaking their hands.

A grinning Mr Gershkovich then hugged both leaders as his Wall Street Journal colleagues cheered his arrival on the tarmac, before he lifted his mother off the ground in a joyous hug.

Asked how it felt to be home, he simply said: “Not bad.”

Evan Gershkovich embraces his mother Ella Milman in a huge hug. Picture: AFP

Evan Gershkovich greets his mother Ella Milman after he arrived back in the United States, as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Russia. Picture: AFP

Eight Russians held across the US, Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland were traded for 16 people including seven Russian political prisoners and five wrongfully detained Germans.

The key to the deal was Germany’s decision to free Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hit man and ex-intelligence officer convicted of murdering an enemy of the Kremlin in a Berlin park in 2019. He was embraced by Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival in Moscow.

Mr Biden, when asked for his message to Mr Putin, said: “Stop.”

Former prisoner held by Russia US journalist Evan Gershkovich waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Picture: AFP

Screenshot of Evan Gershkovich and Kamala Harris has he disembarked the jet. Picture: ABC News

In one of his final acts before he was freed, Mr Gershkovich had to formally request a pardon from Mr Putin, filling out a form in which he also requested an interview with the tyrant.

His parents Ella and Mikhail and sister Danielle said it was “hard to describe what today feels like” before he landed on home soil.

“We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close. Most important now is taking care of Evan and being together again,” they said in a statement.

“No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsu’s families.”

Former prisoner held by Russia, US journalist Evan Gershkovich, is welcomed by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Picture: AFP

WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich meet President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Picture: CNN

After arriving home, the three Americans were set to travel to Texas for a medical evaluation.

The Gershkovich family praised the Biden administration and other Western leaders who helped orchestrate the deal, as well as the reporter’s colleagues at the Wall Street Journal.

US journalist Evan Gershkovich followed by his mother Ella Milman. Picture: AFP

Freed prisoner Evan Gershkovich walks on the tarmac after arriving back in the United States. Picture: AFP

Robert Thomson – the chief executive of News Corp, which owns this masthead and the Wall Street Journal – said the reporter’s “professional integrity and his triumph over adversity are beacons of hope in a turbulent world”.

“We condemn in the strongest terms Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia, which orchestrated Evan’s 491-day wrongful imprisonment based on sham accusations and a fake trial as part of an all-out assault on the free press and truth,” Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker added.

US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris welcome Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, all prisoners freed by Russia, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Picture: AFP

Mr Gershkovich was arrested in March last year while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, about 1500km east of Moscow. Prosecutors falsely alleged he was gathering information about a Russian defence contractor on behalf of America’s Central Intelligence Agency.

Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US Marine Paul Whelan pose with an American flag in the airport lounge in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of their flight to the US. Picture: US Government/Getty Images

Evan Gershkovich (L), US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva (C) and former US Marine Paul Whelan (R) on the phone with President Joe Biden after their release from Russia in Ankara, Turkey. Picture: US Government / AFP

Last month, the 32-year-old was sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony after a secretive three-day trial, the speed of which fuelled hopes of an imminent deal for his freedom.

The Wall Street Journal reported an agreement was almost sealed back in February, which would have included the release of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but his sudden death in mysterious circumstances in a Russian penal colony up-ended negotiations.

Two of Mr Navalny’s associates were among those eventually released.

Mr Gershkovich’s mother fiercely advocated for the journalist to be freed, personally lobbying Mr Biden as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The US President acknowledged “tough calls” were necessary to bring the Americans home, as he hailed what he said was a “feat of diplomacy and friendship”.

Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza were part of a 24-prisoner swap with Russia. Picture: AFP

And while Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticised the prisoner swap, calling US negotiators an “embarrassment” and saying that “nobody can figure out how bad it is”, Mr Biden hit back by saying: “Why didn’t he do it when he was president?”

In this photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin welcomes Russian citizens released in a major prisoner swap with the West, at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. Picture: AFP

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin welcomes Russian citizens released in a major prisoner swap with the West, at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. Picture: AFP

About an hour before the 81-year-old abandoned his re-election effort last month while isolating with Covid, he made a crucial call to Slovenia’s prime minister to secure the pardon necessary for two Russian spies that Mr Putin’s regime wanted released as part of the deal.

The Russian President promised state awards to those returning to Moscow, saying: “I want to thank you for your loyalty to your oath and your duty to your Motherland, which has never forgotten you for a moment.”

Originally published as US-Russia prisoner swap: Emotional scenes as Evan Gershkovich reunited with family