Photos: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva return to US

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Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap ANKARA, TURKEY - AUGUST 1: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Government, Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan pose with an American flag in the airport lounge on August 1, 2024 in Ankara, Turkey. Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, Whelan and others were involved in a multinational prisoner swap with Russia. (Photo by the U.S. Government/Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by relatives of American prisoners freed by Russia, delivers remarks on the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian captivity, in the State Dining Room at the White House on August 01, 2024 in Washington, DC. The two, along with Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen and Radio Free Europe journalist, were released in a prisoner exchange with Russia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by relatives of prisoners freed by Russia, delivers remarks on the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian captivity, in the State Dining Room at the White House on August 01, 2024 in Washington, DC. The two, along with Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen and Radio Free Europe journalist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Washington Post columnist, and others were released in a prisoner exchange with Russia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 1: A video monitor on the News Corp Building in midtown Manhattan announces the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on August 1, 2024 in New York City. Two dozen people were reported to be exchanged between the U.S. and Russia today, including Gershkovich, U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov. (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images) (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 1: The news ticker on the News Corp Building in midtown Manhattan announces the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on August 1, 2024 in New York City. Two dozen people were reported to be exchanged between the U.S. and Russia today, including Gershkovich, U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and convicted Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov. (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images) (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap COLOGNE, GERMANY - AUGUST 1: A Gulfstream 650, which took off from Ankara (Turkey), lands on the military part of Cologne Bonn Airport as part of the prisoner exchange with Russia on August 1, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. A total of two dozen people were expected to be exchanged between the US and Russia today, including Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. The prisoner swap involved multiple aircraft and multiple countries. (Photo by Christoph Reichwein - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap COLOGNE, GERMANY - AUGUST 1: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a press conference detailing a prisoner swap with Russia at Cologne Bonn Airport on August 1, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. A total of two dozen people were expected to be exchanged between the US and Russia today, including Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. The prisoner swap involved multiple aircraft and multiple countries. (Photo by Christoph Reichwein - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Wall Street Journal Editor-In-Chief Emma Tucker looks on before the arrival Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, all prisoners freed by Russia, on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Freed prisoner Paul Whelan walks off a plane after arriving at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris prepare to greet Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, all prisoners freed by Russia, as they arrive at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Freed prisoner Evan Gershkovich greets family and friends after he arrived back in the United States on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harirs greet Paul Whelan, a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Evan Gershkovich greets his mother Ella Milman after arriving back in the United States on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Freed prisoner Alsu Kurmasheva walks off a plane to be greeted by U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greet as she arrives on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 01: A plane carrying Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, all prisoners freed by Russia, sits parked on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich , a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: U.S. President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris embrace the family of freed prisoner Alsu Kurmasheva after she arrived at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Evan Gershkovich greets his mother Ella Milman after he arrived back in the United States on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Their release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Freed prisoner Evan Gershkovich walks on the tarmac after arriving back in the United States on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The release, negotiated as part of a 24 person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Prisoner swap — Prisoner swap JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 1: Freed prisoner Paul Whelan greets a family member after arriving at Joint Base Andrews on August 1, 2024 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The release, negotiated as part of a 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia that involved at least six countries, is the largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

August 02, 2024 at 10:24 am EDT

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