Three US citizens freed in a Russian-West prisoner swap are back on American soil after landing in Maryland
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva are greeted by US President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris and reunited with their families
Biden thanks his allies who he said made the "toughest call" to release the prisoners
The deal frees 24 detainees from seven countries. Ten people, including two minors, were relocated to Russia
It had been more than 18 months in the making and is believed to have hinged on Moscow's demand for the return of hitman Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany
From captivity to loved one's arms - How prisoner swap unfolded
Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Maryland
We’ve been handed orange earplugs as the plane carrying the freed American prisoners is set to arrive shortly.
It’s hot and buzzing with uniformed officers carrying machine guns patrolling close to the press pens. Sniffer dogs have been walking through.
We’re awaiting Biden’s arrival as his motorcade had earlier set off from the White House.
Sarah Rainsford
BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent reporting from Berlin
Image source, Russian Federal Security ServicePaul Whelan was escorted by a Russian FSB officer as he was taken off a plane during the prisoner exchange in Turkey
Paul Whelan must have doubted this moment was ever going to come.
It has been 2,043 days since Federal Security Service (FSB) agents in balaclavas burst into his Moscow hotel room, pinned him to the ground and announced he was being arrested for espionage.
Russia thinks it has caught James Bond, is how he put it one day, but in fact it got Mr Bean on holiday.
The former US Marine was in Moscow for a wedding and had spent the morning leading the guests around the Kremlin.
I remember the day he first arrived in court looking more like a dazed librarian than a dastardly intelligence agent.
“If he’s a spy,” one of his friends wrote to me, with multiple exclamation marks, “then I’m Michael Jackson”.
Read more here
Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor
“This is a matter best dealt with in silence.”
It’s the phrase of choice of Russian officials when asked to comment on possible East-West prisoner exchanges. Words we’ve been hearing for months.
This is how the Kremlin likes it: deal-making behind closed doors, "hostage diplomacy" far from the media spotlight. Intelligence service talking to intelligence service; government to government.
Until Moscow gets what – or rather whom – it wants.
But despite the "silence", there were signals. Something was moving.
In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last February, Vladimir Putin spoke about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who had been arrested in Russia and charged with espionage.
“I do not rule out that Mr Gershkovich may return to his homeland,” Putin said. “We want the US special services to think about how they can contribute to achieving the goals our special services are pursuing.”
It was a very public and unsubtle hint: Moscow was open to doing a deal.
The Kremlin leader didn’t name names. But he made it quite clear whom Russia wanted in return: Vadim Krasikov, the suspected Russian agent who was serving a life sentence for murder - not in America, but in Germany.
You can read more about the behind-the-scenes that led to the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War here.
Image source, Getty ImagesCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the release of the prisoners who had been held in Russia "an immense relief".
He calls the group "unjustly detained by Russia and their freedom is long overdue".
"These men and women are rejoining their families and loved ones," he continues. "But the fight for free political expression in Russia is far from over."
Meanwhile, European Council chief Charles Michel praised the release of the group “unjustly jailed by the Russian regime”.
Image source, Cai Pigliucci / BBCMedia waits for the plane to arrive at Joint Base Andrews
We've just had an update on the arrival time of the freed Americans.
They are expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 23:36 EDT (04:36 BST).
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington
The last few weeks in American politics have been incredibly complex and at times, difficult for the public to follow.
The month began with increasingly vocal calls for Joe Biden to step down from his campaign. We also had a Nato summit, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and subsequent investigation, and, finally, Biden's monumental decision to withdraw from the election.
"The last few weeks have felt like years," is a refrain I've heard multiple times recently.
But while the atmosphere of July has been heavy - and at times negative - today has felt remarkably different.
It's a festive atmosphere, and most politicians in the highly divided US seem in agreement that the prisoner swap is a good thing, despite criticisms from Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
How long the feeling lasts is anyone's guess, but given the pace of the current news cycle, we're likely to move onto other headlines in short order.
But tonight, few will be thinking of what's ahead when the newly released prisoners arrive back on US soil to be reunited with their families.
BBC Newshour
BBC World Service
Image source, ReutersThe Wall Street Journal newsroom broke out in cheers when the news broke of their colleague's release
A colleague and friend of Evan Gershkovich has told BBC Newshour “our hearts are bursting with joy,” after the Wall Street Journal reporter was released today by Russia.
Gráinne McCarthy, the newspaper's chief digital editor, said the newsroom was jubilant after hearing the news of Evan's release:
"It's the most incredible night at the Journal today and across our newsroom, around the world," she said.
"We are absolutely elated, and just our hearts are bursting with joy for Evan to see that he is free."
McCarthy added that Gershkovich has "been an inspiration to us throughout this whole 16 months of his life, and he has remained strong, mentally and physically in very, very trying circumstances."
She said the news team tried to remain optimistic, but nevertheless, "today was a nerve-wracking day, because we still needed to hear that Evan was actually out of Russian custody and truly free".
"And you know, in these kinds of situations, you're always nervous about what can go wrong at the last minute. It's just amazing to see it actually happening."
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Americans freed in the deal are en route to Joint Base Andrews, just outside of Washington DC, where they will meet US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.
They will also have the opportunity to spend time with their families there.
They will then fly to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, to undergo health screenings, be evaluated for trauma, and adjust to their return with the help of the US military.
The trip to the base, which was reported by the San Antonio Express-News and CNN, is standard practice for Americans who are determined to have been wrongly detained overseas.
Some former captives that have been screened there include Brittney Griner, who was jailed in Russia; ex-soldier Travis King, who was jailed in North Korea; and ex-soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Will Grant
Reporting from Maryland
As the journalists and diplomats get closer to the moment that the returned American prisoners step back onto US soil, one is reminded that this is also a uniquely private moment for the families who have been through some of their darkest days before getting to this point.
Something that the family of Evan Gershkovich said when his release had been confirmed was that they had “waited 491 days for Evan’s release, and … can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close”.
This is a uniquely important political and diplomatic feat, coming as it does with about 100 days to go of campaigning before November’s presidential election.
Yet no doubt the relatives will want to simply put all that noise and glare of the media to one side as soon as possible and instead enjoy having their loved ones back at home, and far from the Russian penal system.
Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Maryland
We’re pulling up to security at a military airbase in Maryland where the three Americans freed in a prisoner exchange with Russia will be landing tonight.
There is a long line of media and cars.
We’re waiting to set foot on the tarmac where soon enough Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva will step off the plane, making their first steps back home on American soil.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted a video, external of him calling three of the freed prisoners as they made their way back home to the US.
"We are so happy that you're out and on your way home," he tells the group before the video shows him smiling and laughing.
Blinken, talking earlier about the call, told reporters the freed prisoners sounded in good spirits.
"They all sounded strong of voice, strong mind, strong of spirit," Blinken says, referring to US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Blinken spoke with Whelan a couple of months ago and had told him that the next time they spoke, he hoped "it would be very different circumstances. Very glad that's the case today".
The prisoner swap was a "long, long time" in the making, Blinken said earlier, and the "larger idea of having a big deal involving [Alexei] Navalny and multiple people goes back many, many months".
The deal was a success due to the "incredible collaboration" with several countries, Blinken adds, and that it could not have worked "without all these different pieces".
Asked if he was concerned about Russia getting convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov back, Blinken says "these are always incredibly hard decisions" and that Biden has again shown he's prepared to make them.
The complex prisoner swap deal involves individuals of different citizenships being sent to several different countries.
Image source, EPAGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz
A plane carrying some of the German nationals involved in the prisoner exchange has recently landed at the Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to media after the exchanged prisoner's arrived.
Local outlets quoted Scholz as saying it was a "very moving" encounter and that "many did not expect this to happen".
Sarah Rainsford
BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent, reporting from Berlin
For the families of the Russian political prisoners released, the past few days have been agonising.
Waiting – hoping – but knowing nothing.
When Ania Skochilenko’s sister, Sasha, disappeared from her prison this weekend, it was one of the first indications something might be afoot.
But Ania had no confirmation Sasha was being released until Wednesday night when she got an official call from “an intermediary”, as she puts it.
“We still don’t believe this miracle, we’re in shock,” she told me from France where she lives. “But we know Sasha is free that’s the main thing. That she’s safe. We’re just waiting for the moment when we can hug her.”
So far, Sasha’s only been allowed one, quick call – to her partner.
An artist, she was sentenced to 7 years for ‘spreading false information about the Russian military’ by changing price tags in a supermarket to anti-war statements. One announced that 500 civilians had been killed in Ukraine at that point. Another talked of 20 years of lies from Vladimir Putin.
Ania remembers her shock at the harsh sentence. “It was very hard to accept the injustice. So awful.” The worry was worse because Sasha has multiple health problems, including with her heart. “In those conditions, it could have ended badly.
Even as she celebrates for her sister, though, Ania told me she’s concerned for those left behind.
“There are so many more political prisoners in Russia, and they need huge support and attention. I want there to be much more good news, like this.”
Leonid Volkov, a close ally of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, says today's historic prisoner swap is joyful news for many, but bittersweet for him.
He says Navalny was originally supposed to be included in the swap before he died unexpectedly in February this year. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed this news today, saying the US had been aiming to secure Navalny's freedom.
“Today we’re reveling in the release of political prisoners, Putin’s hostages who were suffering in Putin’s gulag,” Volkov says on X, formerly known as Twitter. “But it still will be joy with tears in our eyes."
"The 'Navalny swap’ has taken place," he adds. "But without Navalny. It is painful."
Image source, Getty ImagesGriner (left) spoke to reporters after a game against Belgium in the Olympic Games
Brittney Griner, the American basketball star who spent 10 months in a Russian prison after being caught there with cannabis, says she is overjoyed by today's news.
Speaking from Paris, where she is playing in the Olympic Games, she called Thursday a "great day".
"I'm head-over-heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that's a win," the WNBA athlete says.
In a news conference with reporters, she described feeling "definitely emotional".
"I'm sure it will be even more emotional a little later on. Yeah, I'm just happy. This was a big win. Huge win," Griner said.
Griner was released in December 2022 in a prison swap deal that included Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.
‘We never stopped fighting’ - Kamala Harris comments on prisoner swap
As we learn more details about today's historic prisoner swap, US Vice-President Kamala Harris says she has spoken to the widow of Alexei Navalny, who was meant to have been been included today's exchange.
Navalny died in February in an Arctic Circle jail, where he was serving part of a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. He had been Russia's most significant opposition leader of the past decade.
Harris says "complex diplomatic negotiations" were behind the release of seven Russian political prisoners, some of whom worked with Navalny.
"Earlier today I spoke with [Navalny's widow] Yulia Navalnaya to discuss the significance of their release," Harris tells reporters.
"And as I told her, the United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia."
Harris says she also commended Navalnaya for "her courage in continuing her husband's work for justice and the rule of law in Russia".
Image source, ReutersYulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, pictured in March this year in Berlin
The swap included three prisoners who were being held in the US.
Russian prisoners arrive in Moscow following swap
Once a journalist, always a journalist.
In a Wall Street Journal feature article , externalwhich detailed the secret negotiations that led to the release of its imprisoned Russia correspondent Evan Gershkovich, we learned that Russian officials asked him to fill in a formal request for presidential clemency. It was to be addressed to Vladimir Putin.
"The pro forma printout included a long blank space the prisoner could fill out if desired, or simply, as expected, leave blank," the article reports.
Gershkovich used "the formal high Russian he had honed over 16 months imprisonment" and "filled the page".
Quote MessageThe last line submitted a proposal of his own: After his release, would Putin be willing to sit down for an interview?"