U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap

Three Americans and an American green cardholder that the Biden administration says were wrongly imprisoned in Russia were freed Thursday, as part of what many are calling an historic prisoner swap. In all, 16 people were released from Russian captivity, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

This is the biggest U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange since the Cold War, which ended almost 35 years ago. Speaking about the agreement at the White House Thursday afternoon, President Biden said initial efforts began when he was first taking office and he made it a priority to bring home all Americans detained unjustly in Russia.

"And now their brutal ordeal is over," Biden announced. "They’re free."

With family members of the freed Americans standing with him, Biden laid out the bare details of the exchange and noted that it took, not only the perseverance of his diplomatic corps but the cooperation of several European allies.

"So, for anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do, they matter," Biden emphasized. "And today is a powerful example of why it's vital to have friends in this world."

In addition to Gershkovich, who was detained while on assignment last year in the Ural Mountains, the deal brings home corporate security executive and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and U.S. permanent resident and Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza.

It also freed seven Russian political prisoners.

"That's who we are in the United States," added President Biden. "We stand for freedom, for liberty, for justice, not only for our own people but for others, as well."

In return, the U.S. and its allies freed eight Russians, including several convicted of spying and one of murder in Germany.

Oklahoma's congressional delegation was mostly silent Thursday on the swap. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) used social media to celebrate the Americans' homecoming but warned that this "sets a very dangerous precedent. Moving forward: U.S. strength, not appeasement, is the best way to keep Americans safe."

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) was just learning about the swap when asked to comment on it Thursday morning. He said, that while it's good that Americans wrongfully imprisoned are coming home, this should be a reminder to any American who's considering traveling to Russia.

"You’re not heading in as a free citizen into a free country," said Lankford "and there’s a possibility that the Russians are going to hold you if they want to get some scoundrel and some convict out of some American jail, they’re going to hold some American as leverage to be able to do that."

The White House communications office said President Biden would be meeting the freed Americans as their plane arrived at Joint Base Andrews around 11:30 p.m. EDT Thursday.