President Joe Biden is celebrating the safe return of three U.S. citizens and one American green card holder who have been wrongly detained in Russia, in some cases for years, including Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
 
“The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy,” Biden wrote Thursday in a statement. “All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia — including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country … All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.”

In his statement, Biden expressed his gratitude to Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for their support “throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome.”

“This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon,” Biden wrote. “Our alliances make Americans safer.

“And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family,” he added.

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Biden underscored how his administration has now brought home more than 70 of those Americans, “many of whom were in captivity since before I took office.”

“Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families … and reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you,” he wrote. “We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.”