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WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich greeted by delighted family and Joe Biden as he arrives back in US to hero’s welcome
Watch the touching moment Evan hugged his mom as they reunited
WALL Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich arrived home to an emotional reunion with his mom and a hero's welcome.
Evan was wrongfully detained in Russia's penal system for 491 days after being accused of spying for the CIA by Vladimir Putin's corrupt regime.
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He faced a daunting 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in a sham trial last month.
Evan, 32, landed in the US with two other Americans unjustly held in a Russian prison just before midnight on Thursday.
Joining Evan on the plane were Russian/American editor for Radio Free Europe Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, and former US Marine Paul Whelan, 54.
Alsu was arrested last year with Paul snatched back in 2018.
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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met the freed group on the tarmac as they stepped off the plane.
Paul saluted Biden as he walked down the stairs of the plane to his freedom.
Evan was the second to leave the plane and was met with resounding applause from supporters and his family.
The journalist hugged his mother, Ella Milman, and lifted her into the air in a tear-jerking moment.
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He then greeted Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour and Wall Street Journal editor in chief Emma Tucker.
Alsu, a mother of two, exited the plane last and greeted Biden with a hug before running into her family's arms.
WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich set to be released from jail in prisoner swap after wrongful arrest in Russia
'ACT TOGETHER'
Biden briefly spoke to reporters as the three Americans greeted their families.
"There's nothing beyond our capacity when we act together," he said.
"To me this is about, this is who we are as a country. It's about being able to have access to the people you love and adore."
When asked if he had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin he gave a terse one-word reply: "Stop."
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The prisoner swap involved seven countries with Turkey serving as a mediator for the negotiations.
The three freed prisoners first stopped in Turkey after leaving Russia and were pictured holding an American flag before arriving at Joint Base Andrews.
Evan, Paul, and Alsu will now fly to Texas for a medical evaluation.
Newsrooms across the world, including at the News Corp family, staged events and demonstrations demanding the innocent journalist be freed.
This comes as...
- National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan revealed the prisoner swap would have included Alexei Navalny - the Kremlin critic who died while in Russian custody in February.
- Sullivan held back tears as he detailed "one of the most complex exchanges in history."
- Freed prisoners Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan were first pictured holding an American flag.
- The Russian Federal Security Service released a video of Gershkovich, Whelan, and Kurmasheva being readied for the exchange.
- Gershkovich's family released a statement celebrating his freedom, saying "We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close."
- President Biden and Vice President Harris welcomed the released Americans at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly after 11:30 pm.
Journalists swam, ran, and fought for Evan's freedom while he was incarcerated.
WHITE HOUSE REMARKS
The Gershkovich family joined President Biden at the White House on Thursday afternoon as he delivered remarks about the freed detainees in Russia.
Biden said he briefly spoke to the detainees and told them, "Welcome almost home."
A photo shared by Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov showed newly freed Evan, ex-US Marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheava holding up the American flag in Ankara, Turkey.
"They're out of Russia. Earlier today, they were flown to Turkey, and soon they will be wheels up on their way home to see their families," Biden said.
"Now, their brutal ordeal is over, and they're free.
"Moments ago, families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office."
The Gershkovich family broke their silence on their silence hours before the journalist was scheduled to arrive in the US.
They said it was hard to describe the feeling after seeing him 491 days later.
"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."
The family also said they were grateful to the US government for their help.
They said: "Our family has felt so much love and support from Evan’s fellow journalists, his wonderful friends, and many, many people around the world. It made a difference to Evan and to us.
"And we especially thank Evan’s colleagues at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.
"They have taken care of Evan and our entire family since the beginning, and we are forever grateful."
In his remarks, President Biden confirmed he did not speak with Putin about the prison swap, which he justified as bringing "home innocent people."
The president met Evan's family, including his parents, Ella and Mikhail, and sister, Danielle, at the White House at around 10:30 am on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
News Corp, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal and The U.S. Sun, has also emphatically called for Evan’s release since he was first jailed last year.
Biden praised allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for assisting in the prisoners' release.
"They all stepped up, and they stood with us," the president said.
"They made a bold and brave decision, released prisoners being held in their counties who were justifiably being held, and provided logistical support to get the Americans home."
Statement from Emma Tucker
Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker and Almar Latour released a joint statement following Evan Gershkovich's release that read,
Evan is free and on his way home.
He was released today in a multilateral prisoner exchange in Ankara, Turkey, along with Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmesheva, among others. We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family, as well as for the others who were released.
At the same time, 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. Unfortunately, many journalists remain unjustly imprisoned in Russia and around the world.
Evan and his family have displayed unrivaled courage, resilience and poise during this ordeal, which came to an end because of broad advocacy for his release around the world.
Specifically, we would like to thank the U.S. government and numerous governments around the world, with particular gratitude to Germany; global news media organizations standing in solidarity with Evan; Evan's vast international network of friends; and our colleagues at The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and News Corp who supported Evan from the first hour of his captivity.
We reserve special recognition and appreciation for Evan's mother, Ella; his father, Mikhail; and his sister, Danielle, and her husband Anthony, who have been steadfast partners throughout this unthinkable ordeal. Their unwavering strength, positivity and resolve will continue to serve as an inspiration.
We will provide further updates connected to Evan’s return to freedom as they become available. More immediately, we will host a virtual Global All-Hands to share what we can. An invitation to join will follow.
Thank you for all that you’ve done to support not only your colleague, but press freedom around the world.
Almar and Emma
'RELENTLESS EFFORT'
Biden previously said his administration worked "relentlessly" to free the imprisoned Americans.
"Deals like this one come with tough calls. There are never any guarantees," he added.
"There's nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad, and so we'll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained Americans around the world."
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Timeline of Evan Gershkovich's detainment
FALSELY jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained on baseless accusations of espionage in March 2023.
Here is a timeline of key events:
Russia's security service, the FSB, charged him with espionage - a charge that he, the WSJ, and the US government deny.
They argued - without evidence - that he collected “information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
- Day 12: April 10, 2023 - The US designated Gershkovich wrongfully detained and launched effort on Russia to free him.
- Day 20: April 18, 2023 - A Moscow court upheld his pre-trial detention, denied him bail and ordered him to be held in the capital's infamous Lefortovo prison.
- Day 55: May 23, 2023 - Gershkovich's detention was extended until at least August 30.
- His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, travelled to the hearing and said "any parents who loves their kid would travel to the end of the world to be with them for give minutes."
- Day 76: June 13, 2023 - The White House called on Russia to immediately free Gershkovich and also free former US marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage in 2020.
- Day 85: June 22, 2023 - A Moscow court upheld the extension of Gershkovich's detention until at least August 30.
- Day 100: July 7, 2023 - The world's press stood for solidarity with the reporter as his shameful detention reached 100 days.
- Day 174: September 19, 2023 - Gershkovich had another appeal for freedom blocked.
- Day 195: October 10, 2023 - The US reporter had yet another appeal denied which would see his detention extended until at least November 30.
- Day 244: November 28, 2023 - A court ruled Gershkovich would remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 30.
- Day 303: January 26, 2024 - The innocent journalist's time behind bars was extended until the end of March.
- Day 316: February 8, 2024 - Vladimir Putin tells US TV host Tucker Carlson a deal could be reached between Russia and the US over Gershkovich.
- Day 363: March 26, 2024: Gershkovich's detention will drag on until June 30 as he nears one year behind bars.
- Day 442: June 13, 2024: Russian authorities announce he will stand trial over bogus accusations that the reporter was spying for the CIA
- Day 455: June 26, 2024: Closed-door sham trial begins in Yekaterinburg at the Sverdlovsk courthouse with Evan appearing inside a glass cage
- Day 478: July 19, 2024: Evan is sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison
- Day 491: August 1, 2024: Evan is released as part of a historic prisoner exchange deal between Russia and the West
EVAN FINALLY FREED
Evan, 32, was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg on March 29, 2023, while on assignment for the Wall Street Journal.
The journalist and the Wall Street Journal consistently denied the allegations against him.
However, a bogus trial on July 19 wrongfully convicted Evan of collecting "secret information" for the CIA.
He was handed a 16-year prison sentence.
But, on Thursday, Evan was released after 491 days inside the horrific Russian penal system - the same network of politically charged jails that killed Putin's rival, Alexei Navalny.
The swap involved 23 other prisoners in Russian jails, including former US Marine Paul Whelan and British-Russian journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that the large-scale prisoner swap would've involved Navalny, but the activist was killed in February.
Vice President Kamala Harris said political prisoners who worked with Navalny were also released in the exchange.
The swap was one of the largest and most complicated exchanges between the West and Russia since the Cold War.
The US, Russia, and Germany were all involved in the large-scale operation following Evan's arrest in March 2023.
Newsrooms across the world, including at News Corp, staged events and demonstrations demanding the release of the innocent journalist.
Emma Tucker, Wall Street Journal's chief editor, described Evan's release as a "joyous day."
"WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich is free," Tucker declared in a statement to staff.
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"This is a day of great joy and relief for Evan, his family, WSJ colleagues, and all those who campaigned so hard for his release.
"It is also a great day for press freedom."
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The Wall Street Journal Editor in Chief Emma Tucker shares a letter after Evan's release
Today is a joyous day for the safe return of our colleague Evan Gershkovich, who left a Russian aircraft moments ago in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, as part of a prisoner swap with Russia.
It is a joyous day for Evan’s family, friends and colleagues, who have worried about him and supported him these past 16 months.
It is a joyous day for the millions of well-wishers in the U.S. and around the world who stood with Evan and defended the free press.
And it is a joyous day for the relatives and friends of the other wrongfully detained Americans and German citizens who returned home and for the Russian political prisoners who were released to the West.
That it was done in a trade for Russian operatives guilty of serious crimes was predictable as the only solution given President Putin’s cynicism. We are grateful to President Biden and his administration for working with persistence and determination to bring Evan home rather than see him shipped off to a Russian work camp for a crime he didn’t commit.
We are also grateful to the other governments that helped bring an end to Evan’s nightmare, in particular the German government that played such a critical role.
We know the U.S. government is keenly aware, as are we, that the only way to prevent a quickening cycle of arresting innocent people as pawns in cynical geopolitical games is to remove the incentive for Russia and other nations that pursue the same detestable practice. The ordeal of Evan and the other returnees—along with those Americans still being wrongfully detained around the world—demonstrates the urgent need for a change in the dynamic to prevent the future seizure of innocent hostages.
But for now, we are celebrating the return of Evan. While we waited for this momentous day, we were determined to be as loud as we could be on Evan’s behalf. We are so grateful for all the voices that were raised when his was silent. We can finally say, in unison, “Welcome home, Evan.”
It has been our honor to have got to know Evan’s family—Ella, Mikhail, Danielle and Anthony—and we have marveled at their good grace, fortitude and wisdom under such pressure. We can imagine and share in their joy and relief at the return of their son and brother.
I am proud of how forcefully the WSJ newsroom and Dow Jones responded to the call of a colleague in extreme distress. Now we and Evan’s many friends in the media and elsewhere can celebrate his return to freedom.
All those who spoke up for Evan and worked for his release—the U.S. and allied governments, Congress, the media industry, readers of the Journal, supporters of the free press, opponents of arbitrary detention, those moved by the plight of a young American journalist behind bars—can know that their support made a huge difference and is greatly, greatly appreciated.
My greatest thanks, though, must go to Evan himself.
The bogus case against him represented many significant things. A blow against press freedom. A warning to foreign journalists covering the Kremlin. A new tension in America’s relationship with Russia.
But at the center of it all was Evan, our 32-year-old Moscow correspondent from New Jersey, who likes to cook and supports Arsenal Football Club, and who loved living in and reporting on Russia.
He was our inspiration, the galvanizing force. We watched him deal with his absurd predicament with strength, composure, humor and a “heart-sign” from behind the walls of his courtroom glass cage. Along the way, we learned about his life and his history and understood why he is beloved by so many.
Now that Evan is home, we plan to give him as much time and space as he needs to restore himself, reconnect, and ponder the next steps in his life and career. We will be right there with him and his family. And we look forward to seeing him in the newsroom when he is ready.
I want to sign off by once again thanking all those who helped bring him home and rejoice that Evan and his fellow former detainees are reunited with their families.
We stand with them all,
Emma Tucker