08/01/2024

Biden Administration Negotiates a Landmark Prisoner Exchange

This exchange was the largest since the height of the Cold War

The United States, Russia, Germany and four other countries swapped at least 24 people Thursday in the largest prisoner exchange since the height of the Cold War.

Those released included American journalist Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, Russian dissidents and others from the United States, Belarus, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia.

The exchange caps months of painstaking diplomacy involving negotiations at the highest levels of multiple governments. "The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," said President Joe Biden in a statement. Russia received eight prisoners Thursday, and released 16, many of whom were unjustly accused or handed heavy sentences for minor offenses.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.