Americans freed from Russia in prisoner swap land on US soil

The entrance of the Brooke Army Medical Center where where freed Americans will undergo medical evaluations in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Americans freed from the Russian prison system in a multi-national prisoner swap have landed safely in the U.S. and have already met with family and President Biden and Vice President Harris at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The freed quartet of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva and American green-card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza are now en route to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Once they arrive in San Antonio — projected to be at 3:20 a.m. local time — they are scheduled to be taken to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), about 25 minutes away in another part of San Antonio.

BAMC is where formerly detained prisoners are taken for debriefing, observation, medical and psychological evaluations and the beginning process of reintegration onto U.S. soil.

A government official told Fox News that all three Americans have accepted to participate in PISA (Post Isolation Support Activities).

Brooke Army Medical Center is known for treating severely injured combat casualties and victims of trauma or torture, according to its website.

WNBA star Britney Griner, who was part of a major prisoner swap in late 2022, was also taken to BAMC during her arrival back to the U.S.

President Biden spoke to reporters after a plane carrying three American prisoners who were released by Russia landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night.

Biden was asked about his feelings about getting the prisoners home and said, “satisfaction."

He was also asked what his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin would be.

“Stop,” Biden said.

Biden told reporters, “There’s nothing beyond our capacity when we act together...Nothing…We’re the United States of America.”

Harris told reporters this is “the power of diplomacy.”

“This is an extraordinary day. I’m very thankful for our president and what he has done,” Harris said. “This is an incredible day and you can see it in the families.”

Marc Fogel (Photo courtesy Ellen Keelan and Lisa Hyland)

The mother of Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for the last three years criticized the Biden administration for not “trying hard enough” to include her son in  a prisoner swap with Russia that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans, according to reports.

The New York Post reported that the 95-year-old Malphine Fogel said she was disappointed her 65-year-old son was overlooked again by Biden’s team when negotiating a deal to release Americans imprisoned in Russia.

Fogel, who works as a teacher, was sentenced to 14 years in a hard labor Russian penal colony after he was arrested for possessing medical marijuana that was prescribed to him for chronic back pain.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in 2022 after she was found in possession of cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage as she returned to the county to play basketball.

Griner was released on Dec. 8, 2022 in exchange for Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death,” or, one of the world’s most dangerous and infamous arms dealers.

Fogel remained in prison and continues to be today.

His mother spoke to The Post after learning about the prisoner swa on Thursday.

“I heard about it with pain on the news,” Malphine told The Post.

“I don’t think the administration is trying hard enough for him,” she added. “I guess because he is a common American citizen.”

While Malphine said she is happy for those who were released to their families, she cannot fathom why her son was not included.

She also called out Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, saying he “needs to be more forceful to get him designated unlawfully detained.”

Evan Gershkovich (Russian TV)

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to greet the Americans released by Russia in a prisoner swap on Thursday, when they arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at around 11:30 p.m.

Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza were released as part of a prisoner swap with Russia, after being unjustly imprisoned.

Gershkovich, a 32-year-old reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while reporting on a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage.

Whelan was jailed in December 2018 for espionage-related charges that he and the U.S. government dispute.

In exchange for their release as well as the release of others, Russia received eight prisoners in U.S. custody.

The released prisoners were Vadim Krasikov from Germany; Artem Viktorovich Dultsev from Slovenia; Anna Valerevna Dultseva from Slovenia; Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin from Norway; Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov from Poland; Roman Seleznev from the U.S.; Vladislav Klyushin from the U.S.; and Vadim Konoshchenock from the U.S.

The freed Americans are currently on a plane headed for Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. When they arrive, both Biden and Harris are expected to greet them on the tarmac.

White House National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby addressed criticism over the release of Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov for three Americans and other political dissidents held by Russia.

Former Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were released Thursday in a multi-nation prisoner swap in what's being called the biggest prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia since the Cold War.

Krasikov, who was convicted of a 2019 murder, was freed by Germany in the prisoner swap and was seen embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow after returning home.

Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier, citing Newsweek, noted criticism that the prisoner exchange has been "hailed as a ‘success’ for Vladimir Putin."

Kirby told Baier on "Special Report" the decision to release Krasikov took "a lot of moral courage" from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"Nobody's delighted or doing backflips over here because Mr. Krasikov is now a free man. That's what negotiations are all about. They require tough decisions, tough calls. The president was willing to make that tough call in order to get these — all these individuals, not just the Americans, all of them — released," he said.

Read more about Kirby’s remarks on the prisoner swap.

Fox News’ Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report

Vice President Kamala Harris (Bizuayehu Tesfaye)

Vice President Harris said all four of the American prisoners who were released Thursday will be reunited with their loved ones after being convicted in “sham trials” and sentenced to long prison terms.

When the Vice President was asked if she would be meeting the released prisoners, she ignored the question.

Three American citizens – Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva – and one American green-card holder –  Vladimir Kara-Murza – who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia were released from Russia in a prisoner swap on Thursday.

Harris released a statement on the prisoner swap just before boarding Air Force 2 on Thursday.

“As President Biden announced earlier today, Paul, Evan, Alsu and green card holder Vladimir were unjustly held in Russia and will soon be reunited with their loved ones,” Harris said. “Russian authorities arrested and convicted them in sham trials and sentenced them to long prison terms.

“This has been an appalling perversion of justice over many years, President Biden and I and our team have engaged in conflict, diplomatic locations to bring these wrongfully detained Americans home,” Harris continued. “We never stopped fighting for their release. And today, in spite of all of their suffering, it gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is finally over.”

She also spoke about Alexei Navalny, who would have been released as part of the deal had he not died in an Arctic prison in February. Harris said the exchange included the release of Russian political prisoners who worked with Navalny.

Harris told reporters she spoke with Navalny’s widow, Yulia, about the significance of the release of the prisoners.

“As I told her…the United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia,” Harris said.

After finishing her statement, one reporter shouted, “Will you be meeting Evan and Paul when they return?”

Harris did not answer the reporter’s question, but instead boarded Air Force 2.

Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov who was sentenced to life in 2021 for the assassination of a Chechen-Georgian dissident in a Berlin park, in Berlin, Germany, August 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Russia received eight criminals in a historic prisoner swap that saw a total of 24 detainees released in a complex deal involving seven nations, including the U.S. and Germany.

Here is a look at the faces of evil that were allowed to return to Russia in the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War:

Vadim Krasikov

The top pick on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wish list for the swap was hit man Vadim Krasikov, who used the alias Vadim Sokolov. He was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building.

He apparently carried out the assassination on the orders of Moscow’s security services.

Read more about the other Russian prisoners who were released by the U.S.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said each family of the American prisoners who were released by Russia on Thursday, was given the opportunity to speak with their loved ones by phone, from the Oval Office.

“The president invited the family members in at the moment that we received the word from the tarmac in Ankara that the exchange was complete, and he was able to give them the news directly that the exchange was, in fact, complete,” Sullivan said.

He continued, saying three of the released prisoners  –  Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva – were in one place while American green-card holder, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was in another place.

President Biden then conducted two calls from the Oval Office. The first call was with the three American citizens. During the call, Biden said on behalf of the American people, he was proud to have them out of Russian prisons.

Biden then quickly turned the phone over to the family members, each of which got the chance to speak with their loved one.

After the first call, the president conducted a second call with Kara-Muraz, Sullivan said, in which he was able to speak with his wife, one of their daughters and their son.

“He also got to reminisce on the fact that they were both pallbearers together at John McCain’s…funeral,” Sullivan said of the President and Kara-Muraz.

FSB assassin Vadim Krasikov, sentenced to life in 2021, was exchanged on 1 August 2024 as part of a major prisoner swap; seen here greeted by president Vladimir Putin at the arrival to Russia. (East2West)

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a joint statement that the release of Americans is “encouraging news,” though “trading hardened Russian criminals for innocent Americans does little to discourage Putin’s reprehensible behavior.”

The two federal lawmakers released the statement after world leaders reached a deal with Russia to swap prisoners, a deal that was in the making for months.

As part of the deal, Americans  Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza were released into U.S. custody.

At the top of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s list was hit man Vadim Krasikov, who used the cover name Vadim Sokolov and was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building.

“The release of innocent Americans and Russian political prisoners from wrongful detention is encouraging news,” the two Republican lawmakers wrote. “We eagerly await the return of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza to their homes and loved ones and will continue pressing for all Americans to be released.

 “Their unjust captivity will be an enduring reminder of the Russian government’s longstanding fear of free people and the free press. And the continued imprisonment of American citizens and innocent Russians is a damning indictment of Vladimir Putin’s hostility to the United States and his disdain for the rule of law,” they continued.

 “Without serious action to deter further hostage-taking by Russia, Iran, and other states hostile to the United States, the costs of hostage diplomacy will continue to rise,” Johnson and McConnell added. “As we renew our call for the return of all persons wrongfully detained by the Kremlin, we recognize that trading hardened Russian criminals for innocent Americans does little to discourage Putin’s reprehensible behavior.”

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was released from Russian prison Thursdsay in a historic prisoner swap. (WSJ)

After 16 months in a Russian prison, Evan Gershkovich was released Thursday in the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War, orchestrated by the Biden administration.

Almost two weeks ago, Biden announced to the world he was dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. But just before he made that decision, the president made a call to his Slovenian counterpart urging them to make final arrangements to get the historic prisoner exchange over the line.

That swap included Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, along with legal permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza. In exchange, Vladamir Putin insisted his hitman Vadim Krasikov be released back to Russia.

Krasikov used the cover name Vadim Sokolov and was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building. He was in German custody.

Read more about what happened behind the scenes.

Fox News’ Brianna Herlihy and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.

President Biden and the families of prisoners released by Russia on Thursday. (White House)

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Alexei Navalny  was part of the deal that led to a prisoner swap between Russia and other nations, before the Putin opposition leader died in a prison in February.

The 47-year-old Navalny was serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic penal colony at the time of his death.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Sullivan was asked if Navalny was part of the deal before he died.

“So, we had been working with our partners on a deal that would have included Alexei Navalny, and, unfortunately, he died,” Sullivan said. “In fact, on the very day that he died, I saw [Evan Gershkovich’s] parents and I told them that the president was determined to get this done, even in light of that tragic news, and that we were going to work, day and night to get to this day.”

President Joe Biden (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

President Biden spoke with world leaders who played critical roles in a prisoner swap with Russia, that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, on Thursday.

The White House said in a statement that Biden spoke individually with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to thank them for their partnership on today’s historic deal that brought home Americans and others detained in Russia.

“The President expressed his appreciation for their support during the complex negotiations and active engagement throughout the process to achieve this monumental release,” the White House said.

The New York Times reported that Turkey played an important role in the several months of negotiations that led to the swap on Thursday.

In a statement, Turkish security officials referred to the prisoner exchange as historic, while Biden also named Turkey as one of the countries that “stepped up” to help bring the prisoners home.

Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this report.

Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan on the phone with President Joe Biden (phone held by U.S. Government Employee).

The White House shared new images of the three prisoners from the U.S. who were released by Russia in the largest swap since the Cold War.

The three American citizens released were Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva. A fourth American green-card holder, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was also released as part of the deal on Thursday.

In one image shared by the White House, Gershkovich, Kurmasheva and Whelan were seen speaking with President Biden on the phone.

In another picture, the three Americans were seen holding a U.S. flag while in Ankara, after being released.

United States' Brittney Griner, center, stands on the court during the national anthem prior to a women's basketball game against Belgium at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Brittney Griner rejoiced upon hearing the news of the prisoner exchange that freed three Americans from Russian detention on Thursday, something the WNBA star is very familiar with.

“Great day. It’s a great day. It’s a great day,” Griner said after the U.S. women;s team beat Belgium 87-74 to clinch a berth in the Paris Olympic Games quarterfinals. “We’ll talk more about it later. But head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that’s a win. That’s a win.”

Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was part of a high-profile prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States in 2022 after she was sentenced to nine years in jail for drug possession and smuggling that year. sShe was freed in in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout.

“I’m sure it’ll be emotional even more a little bit later on,” Griner said. "Yeah. I’m just happy. Like this is a big win. A huge win.”

Since returning home, Griner has worked with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign formed in 2022 by the family members of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta said Russia's practice of detaining Americans is a form of "blackmail" meant to force the release of its citizens.

"The Russians pick up these people, make false charges against them, throw them in prison, and basically use them then as pawns to try to get back people that they want," the former intelligence chief told Neil Cavuto on "Your World." "The problem is that this then creates an incentive down the road for them to basically pick up more people in order to get the people back that they want. It's not a very comforting process."

Vadim Krasikov 58, is being released by Germany, where he has been imprisoned for murder, as part of Thursday's prisoner exchange. Krasikov was convicted for the Aug. 23, 2019, killing of Zelimkhan "Tornike" Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen who had fought Russian troops in Chechnya and later claimed asylum in Germany.

"I'm sure the linchpin here was getting Krasikov back," Panetta said. "Krasikov is an assassin for the Russians."

Getting Krasikov back is a big deals for the Moscow, said Panetta.

"In his (Russian President Vladimir Putin) mind, getting somebody like that back basically sends a message to others that Russia will do everything they can to get back those who do their bidding," he said. "And, I think Putin considers this to be a success without question"

The Associated Press contributed to this report

President Joe Biden (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

President Biden is scheduled to greet the Americans released by Russia in a prisoner swap on Thursday, when they arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The White House said Biden will be joined by Vice President Harris at Andrews when Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza arrive.

Evan Gershkovich was freed from Russia in a prisoner swap and is seen sat on an aircraft on Thursday, August 1. (Russian TV)

The family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was released in a prisoner swap between several countries and Russia, broke their silence since his release, saying they cannot wait “to give him the biggest hug.”

"We have waited 491 days for Evan’s release, and it’s hard to describe what today feels like,” the family said. “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. No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsu’s families.

“We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Chancellor Scholz and every U.S. or foreign government official who helped get Evan released,” the family continued. “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."

Gershkovich, American veteran Paul Whelan and others were released into U.S. custody after a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia on Thursday.

Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report. 

An undated picture obtained by Reuters shows Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov who was sentenced to life in 2021 for the assassination of a Chechen-Georgian dissident in a Berlin park, in Berlin, Germany, August 1, 2024. (Reuters)

In the biggest prisoner swap with Moscow since the Cold War, the Biden administration on Thursday secured the liberation of 16 American and German nationals held prisoner in Russia and Belarus in exchange for the release of eight Russians.

The top of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s list was hit man Vadim Krasikov, who used the cover name Vadim Sokolov and was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building.

"Krasikov is a high-ranking colonel in the elite Spetsnaz unit of the FSB," Rebekah Koffler, former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," told Fox News Digital in reference to Russia’s intelligence agency the Federal Security Service (FSB).

"Krasikov is a very high-value asset who will be debriefed by the Russian security services on the operation, how he got apprehended, what he learned during the interrogations in Germany, and everything the Russians are interested in," she explained. "These debriefings will help the Russians to make improvements in their operational tradecraft for Russian intelligence."

Read more about Russia’s “high-value asset” acquisition.

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.

McCaul warned about the message the deal sends Putin. (Getty Images)

A top Republican warned on Thursday that the Biden administration's choice to trade Russian criminals for detained Americans – including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan – could be sending a "dangerous message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, joined others in celebrating the releases, saying he was "thrilled" to hear the detained Americans were coming home.

"But I remain concerned that continuing to trade innocent Americans for actual Russian criminals held in the U.S. and elsewhere sends a dangerous message to Putin that only encourages further hostage taking by his regime," he added.

He further stressed, "We should also not forget those Americans who may still be held in Russia, like Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina, as well as those held in other countries, including Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and David Lin, who are held in China, and Ryan Corbett, who is held in Afghanistan. We must get all of them home to their families too."

Read more about Rep. McCaul’s concerns over the swap.

Fox News’ Julia Johnson and Bryan Boughton contributed to this report.

Video from the Wall Street Journal newsroom shows journalists standing and cheering after learning one of its reporters, Evan Gershkovich , had been released to U.S. custody as part of a prisoner swap with Russia.

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while reporting on a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage.

The Wall Street Journal shared video from its newsroom after editor in chief Emma Tucker announced Gershkovich had been released.

The video shows an image of Gershkovich projected on a screen, and underneath it reads, #IStandWithEvan.

The video also shows the Wall Street Journal staff cheering and clapping about the news.

Vladimir Putin welcomed several prisoners in Moscow on Thursday, who were swapped with other countries, including the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the prisoners who were released by the U.S. in a swap with Russia on Thursday, in Moscow.

The released prisoners were Vadim Krasikov from Germany; Artem Viktorovich Dultsev from Slovenia; Anna Valerevna Dultseva from Slovenia; Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin from Norway; Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov from Poland; Roman Seleznev from the U.S.; Vladislav Klyushin from the U.S.; and Vadim Konoshchenock from the U.S.

In exchange, the U.S. was handed Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The Hostages & Wrongful Detainees flag will be flown at the White House.

The White House will fly the Hostages & Wrongful Detainees flag for the first time, after the release of hostages into U.S. custody on Thursday.

“Today, as the United States celebrates the release of Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan, we fly the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag to remember all the other Americans who remain held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad,” a White House official said. “The flag symbolizes our enduring commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our fellow Americans, and our sacred vow to continue working tirelessly until every American is accounted for and returns safely back home.

“We see you, and we stand with you,” the official added. “This is the first time the flag will be flown at the White House in celebration.”

Fox News' Nicolas Rojas contributed to this report.

Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan smile aboard an airplane after being released from Russian prison in a historic prisioner swap on Thursday, August 1, 2024. (U.S. Government)

President Biden shared a picture of the Americans who were released on Thursday in a post on X.

“After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans detained in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journeys back into the arms of their families,” Bideen wrote.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan were released into U.S. custody after a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday morning.

Photos of former US Marine Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, who were both freed from Russia in a prisoner swap on Thursday, August 1.

New images of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan being released into U.S. custody.

The images, which were from Russian TV, show Gershkovich on a plane, though it is not clear what the circumstances are behind the photo of Whelan.

Gershkovich and American veteran Whelan are in U.S. custody after a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday morning. Alsu Kurmasheva, another American citizen, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a green card holder, were also freed. 

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Russia's state-owned defence corporation Rostec CEO in Moscow on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Gavriil GRIGOROV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich made a request to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin in his exit paperwork before release.

Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan are in U.S. custody after a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday morning.

Alsu Kurmasheva, another American citizen, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a green card holder, were also freed.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich was required to submit paperwork for a presidential pardon to complete the swap.

Gershkovich reportedly used that form to leave a brief note asking for a sit-down interview with the Russian president.

Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journa, speaks at the Digital Life Design (DLD) innovation conference. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The Wall Street Journal published a letter reacting to the release of American journalist Evan Gershkovich on Thursday.

"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," the letter, written by editor-in-chief Emma Tucker, reads.

"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," it continues. "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."

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while reporting on a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage.

The Biden administration declared him "wrongfully detained" and The Wall Street Journal and U.S. government both emphatically denied the charges, calling them absurd on their face.

"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," Tucker said in her letter.

The full statement can be read here.

Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who was arrested for alleged spying, listens to the verdict in a courtroom at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, June 15, 2020. (Sofia Sandurskaya, Moscow News Agency photo via AP)

The family of Paul Whelan published a statement on Thursday acknowledging the release of the former U.S. Marine.

"Paul Whelan is free. Our family is grateful to the United States government for making Paul’s freedom a reality," the statement reads. "We’d like to thank President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and National Security Advisor Sullivan for their engagement with the Russian Federation to create the environment where Paul’s freedom became a possibility."

The family noted that Whelan has been in Russian custody for 2,043 days.

Whelan had been wrongfully detained by Russian authorities for more than five years, according to the U.S. State Department. His release is part of a massive swap of political prisoners and journalists involving the United States and Germany. 

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan and former U.S. Marine, has been jailed in Russia since his December 2018 arrest on espionage-related charges that both he and the U.S. government dispute. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. 

"His case was that of an American in peril, held by the Russian Federation as part of their blighted initiative to use humans as pawns to extract concessions," the family said.

The full statement can be read here.

Wall Street Journal leaders have said the "sham conviction" of Evan Gershkovich was a disgrace.(NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is free, according to the Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich, American veteran Paul Whelan and others are expected to be in U.S. custody soon as part of a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia, a senior administration official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday morning.

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while reporting on a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and accused of espionage. The Biden administration declared him "wrongfully detained" and The Wall Street Journal and U.S. government both emphatically denied the charges, calling them absurd on their face.

Whelan had languished in Russian custody for years.

A well-placed source told Fox News that Turkish intelligence officials played a key role in mediating the prisoner swap. 

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Wednesday, June 26, 2024.(AP)

President Biden has called the prisoner swap deal with Russia Thursday that secured the release of The Wall Street Journal's Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others a "feat of diplomacy."

"Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza," he said in a statement.