Summary
This document provides some news and information about the prisoner exchange of 1 Aug 2024 which is considered to be one of the most significant of such exchanges in 80 years.
Al Jazeera reported early on 1 Aug 2024 that, according to media in Russian, an aircraft used in previous prisoner exchanges between Russia and the United States had landed in Kaliningrad. [Source]
News
News reports are below in chronological order, and by source name when several entries are included on the same date.
Al Jazeera (2 Aug 2024)
“How did Russia and the West agree the prisoner exchange?” — It’s the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War – despite the worst hostility in modern times because of the invasion of Ukraine. [Source]
GMA (2 Aug 2024)
“Freed Americans land in US after prisoner swap” — Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington. [Source]
Al Jazeera (1 Aug 2024)
“Prisoner swap between Russia and the US could be imminent: Media reports” — There are indications that a prisoner swap between Russia and the US could be imminent. Russian media are reporting that aircraft used in previous prisoner exchanges between Russia and the US has landed in Kalingrad. [Source]
BBC News (1 Aug 2024)
“Who are the prisoners in the Russia-West swap?” — The US has confirmed at least 24 people were involved in a prisoner exchange between Russia and some Western countries including the US and Germany. [Source]
CBC News (1 Aug 2024)
“Everything we know about the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap” — The U.S. and Russia agreed to a historic multinational exchange of prisoners, including an American journalist, a Russian assassin and a Canadian who served as a U.S. Marine. Andrew Chang explains what we know about who has been freed and what still remains unclear. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“Biden speaks about massive prisoner swap with Russia that freed Gershkovich, Whelan” — President Biden delivered remarks about the massive prisoner swap between Russia and Western countries, including the U.S. Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are among the Americans released as part of the deal Thursday. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“Breaking down the prisoner swap involving Russia, Germany and others” — The families of three American citizens and one legal permanent resident are awaiting the return of their family members who have been held captive in Russia. Their release is part of a monumental prisoner swap that involved Germany, Russia and other nations. CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe and Olivia Gazis report. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“Democrats, Republicans react to prisoner swap with Russia” — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are reacting to Thursday’s prisoner swap with Russia. Republican Rep. French Hill of Arkansas, co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, joins “America Decides” to unpack the deal. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others to be freed in U.S.-Russia prisoner swap” — The U.S. has agreed to a prisoner swap with Russia to free Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“How the prisoner swap with Russia came together” — Three American citizens and a permanent resident are on their way home Thursday after the U.S. secured their release from prison in Russia. CBS News’ Olivia Gazis, Robert Costa and Ed O’Keefe have more. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“What to know about Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva” — A major prisoner swap is underway between the U.S. and Russia that includes Americans Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva. Michael George anchored CBS News’ special coverage of the release. [Source]
CBS News (1 Aug 2024)
“World reacts to historic prisoner swap with Russia” — A historic prisoner swap on Thursday secured the release of 24 prisoners from six countries, including several Americans who had been detained in Russia. CBS News foreign correspondent Ramy Inocencio has more on the reaction from leaders from around the world. Then, Christopher O’Leary, senior vice president for global operations at the consulting firm Soufan Group, joins with analysis. [Source]
CNBC (1 Aug 2024)
“President Biden on U.S.-Russia prisoner swap: ‘All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia'” — President Joe Biden remarks on Americans returning home from Russia in prisoner swap. [Source]
CNN (1 Aug 2024)
“Investigative journalist reveals new details of prisoner swap” — Investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who played a key role in the massive prisoner swap between the US and Russia, tells CNN’s Erin Burnett about how the deal transpired. [Source]
CNN (1 Aug 2024)
“US and Russia carrying out massive prisoner swap, US official says” — A large-scale prisoner swap between the US and Russia is under way, according to a source familiar, and it is expected to include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and a number of Americans. [Source]
CNN (1 Aug 2024)
“Why did Putin agree to prisoner swap?” — CNN’s Matthew Chance explains why he believes President Vladimir Putin agreed to a massive prisoner swap that included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. [Source]
Deutsche Welle (1 Aug 2024)
“How a historic prisoner swap was orchestrated despite strained US-Russia relations” — On Thursday, a historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West was completed in Turkey. This was the largest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The exchange took place at Ankara airport – and involved 24 adults and two children. Many high-profile prisoners held in Russian jails have been released. They include American journalist Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan and several Russian dissidents. Among the prisoners being returned to Russia is Vadim Krasikov. He was convicted in Germany of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services. US President Joe Biden spoke at the White House after the deal had been successfully pulled off, triumphantly announcing: “We are bringing them home.” [Source]
MSNBC (1 Aug 2024)
“‘A feat of diplomacy’: Breaking down the historic prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia” — After a momentous prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia, with the help of other countries, sixteen prisoners held in Russia were freed by the Biden administration. Chris Jansing speaks with a panel of reporters and experts to discuss the achievement, the difficulties behind getting such a deal done, and what it means to the families of those coming home. [Source]
NBC (1 Aug 2024)
“Russia releases Gershkovich, Whelan and others in multinational prisoner swap” — Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, American businessman Paul Whelan and two others in a historic prisoner swap involving the United States, Germany and other countries. Russia released a total of 16 prisoners, while the U.S. and other countries released eight Russians. It was the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War. [Source]
PBS (1 Aug 2024)
“Biden administration says prisoner exchange took years of complex negotiations with Russia” — Three Americans who were held in Russia are free after a prisoner swap between the United States, its allies and Russia. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Jon Finer, President Biden’s Deputy National Security Adviser. [Source]
PBS (1 Aug 2024)
“Former State Department official analyzes implications of U.S.-Russia prisoner trade” — High-profile Americans held in Russia were released as part of the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War. Nick Schifrin discussed the larger implications of the exchange with Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department official who served in the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations. [Source]
PBS (1 Aug 2024)
“Gershkovich among 3 Americans freed in historic prisoner swap with Russia” — The waiting, the worrying and the dreadful wondering are over for three Americans jailed in Russia and their families. Journalists Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan are free after an extraordinary prisoner swap deal struck among the U.S., its allies and the Russian government. Nick Schifrin reports. [Source]
PBS (1 Aug 2024)
“Sister of American not part of Russian prisoner swap: ‘We don’t have the celebrity status'” — One American not released in the prisoner swap with Russia is teacher Marc Fogel, who was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony in 2022. He was arrested in 2021 at a Moscow airport for carrying medically prescribed marijuana. Geoff Bennett discussed Fogel’s detention with his sister, Anne Fogel. [Source]
Washington Post Podcast (1 Aug 2024)
“The story behind a landmark prisoner swap” — Today, we hear about the secret negotiations that led to an extraordinary prisoner swap on Thursday. Among the freed: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, other Americans, Russian dissidents – and a convicted assassin. [Source]