"WASHINGTON — The U.S. on Thursday confirmed a historic prisoner swap with Russia that included the release of American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza.

In total, the U.S. secured the release of 16 individuals, including five wrongfully detained Germans and seven Russian citizens, in return for eight Russians held in the U.S., Germany, Poland, Norway and Slovenia.

It marked the largest prisoner swap between the United States and Russia since the Cold War."

Liam Scott reports for Voice of America August 1, 2024. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"2 Belarusian Journalists Sentenced To Prison In A Closed-Door Trial, Rights Group Says" (AP) [3]

"Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich" (Wall Street Journal) [4]