After spending more than five years in a Russian prison, former US Marine Paul Whalen will be released as part of a prisoner swap. Today we will discuss about Paul Whelan released date: Russia,Married,Family,wikipedia.
Paul Whelan released date: Russia,Married,Family,wikipedia
Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan were released from Russian custody on Thursday as part of a six-nation deal, the largest prisoner swap between Washington and Moscow since the Cold War.
Speaking from the White House, President Joe Biden thanked US allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey for the help, which he described as a “achievement of diplomacy”.
Biden said, “They stood with us. They made bold and courageous decisions, released prisoners who were rightfully being held in their own countries, and provided military assistance to get Americans home.”
The exchange of 24 prisoners came after months of negotiations and marks a rare moment of cooperation between Russia and its geopolitical rivals in the West after Russia’s more than two-year war in Ukraine. The prisoner swap involves the release of 16 individuals previously detained in Russia in exchange for eight held in the US, Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland. Turkish intelligence announced that it had agreed to provide logistical support to facilitate the exchange.
Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who was arrested in Russia in 2020, and another journalist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British dissident, were also exchanged. Was released from Russian prisons in . ,
Among those returning to Russia was hitman Vadim Krasikov, who was jailed in Germany since 2021. Krasikov’s release was the biggest concession to bring Gershkovich, Whalen and others home. The Russian Security Service issued a statement saying that eight Russian citizens “who were detained and imprisoned in a number of NATO countries, as well as minor children, were returned to their homeland.”
Standing with the families of the freed Americans at the White House on Thursday, Biden called their sentences “show trials” and said they were held for “absolutely no legitimate reason.” Whalen, Gershkovy.
Russia
Russia, the United States and several other countries joined in an extraordinary, 24-prisoner swap on Thursday, the White House said Thursday, the largest exchange of its kind since the Cold War and in which President Joe Biden was directly involved.
The swap allows two US citizens wrongly detained by Moscow – Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whalen – to return home.
Shortly before noon Thursday, Gershkovich and Whalen were freed and were on their way back to the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the multipart deal is the result of months of detailed, painstaking negotiations.
“Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their suffering is over,” Biden said in a statement.
“It’s a wonderful afternoon,” Biden said in a speech at the White House moments later, surrounded by family members of those freed. “A short while ago, the family and I were able to speak to him on the telephone from the Oval Office. He is out of Russia.”
Asked by a reporter what he told them, Biden responded with a smile, “I said, ‘Welcome home, almost home.'”
Paul Whelan released date: Russia,Married,Family,wikipedia
He said the deal was a “feat of diplomacy and friendship”.
“This deal would not have been possible without our allies. Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey, they all came forward and they stood with us. They stood with us, and they made bold and courageous decisions, releasing prisoners What was done was they were kept in their countries, properly housed and provided military support to bring the Americans back home, so, anyone who questions whether the Allies mattered, they mattered Are.”
Planes believed to be carrying freed prisoners were seen arriving at Ankara Airport in Turkey.
Married
He never married and has no children. He testified in a 2013 court deposition that he had worked as a Chelsea police officer from 1988–2000, and also worked for the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. Whalen, according to his service record, died in the U.S. on May 10, 1994. Joined the Marine Corps Reserve.
Family
“I’m sorry for the delay in sharing this, as I know it makes your job a little harder. I’m waiting until I get official confirmation that Paul has been released.
“Paul was a Russian hostage for 2,043 days. Thank you for helping us cover Paul’s story during that time and sharing our message and advocacy for his release. Paul will receive the support of the US government over the next few days, as All the freed hostages get another week. I hope you give him some privacy as you have done with the other released hostages.
“It is Paul’s story to tell now and I am sure that in time he will tell it how he wants to tell it. It is important that he is given back the rights over his life that the Kremlin took away for so many years I do not represent him. Please do not send me or any member of our family a request to interview Paul. Will send to email list.
“My work as our family’s spokesperson is over.
As of December 27, 2018, our family has no need of a spokesperson. Our goal has been achieved and our part in this story is over. Please Don’t contact our parents, siblings.” Or relatives have already had media access for interviews or responses and it has not been appreciated, in particular, our parents have indicated that they do not want to be interviewed by any medium for the rest of their years. Quietly, privately, and let’s hope no one sends satellite vans or reporters to our parents’ house like they did in January 2019.
“It’s hard to draw a bright line around a story like this. But while Elizabeth and I have tried to be available to you over the past few years, we’re both going to be focused on our own lives and not as available. Managing the expectations of your editors and producers.
wikipedia
Biden said he and their families had spoken to freed prisoners by telephone in the Oval Office. They were flown from Russia to Turkey early Thursday, he confirmed, and will return to the United States soon.
“This is an incredible relief to all the family members gathered here,” he said.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were to meet in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night. Gershkovich will welcome Whalen and others upon landing at Joint Base Andrews outside the U.S.
Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, played a key role in the prisoner exchange, Sullivan said, pointing to a discussion she had with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during this year’s Munich Security Conference about the prisoner release in February. Did.
Paul Whelan released date: Russia,Married,Family,wikipedia
“Harris was a key member of the team that helped make this happen,” Sullivan said.
– Joey Garrison
Russian dissidents also included among those freed
Biden said some political dissidents in Russia are being released and can now live safely abroad, and that should make Americans proud. He also took a dig at his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, saying that one of his first acts as president-elect was to investigate the cases of wrongfully detained Americans that he inherited from the former administration.
Asked later about Trump’s claim that he could have released prisoners without giving anything in return, Biden said: “Why didn’t he do that when he was president?”
Overall, Biden said, more than 70 Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage have been released during his administration. Biden, who left office in January, said he would continue working to bring wrongfully detained Americans home.
The families never lost hope, he said. Turning to Whalen’s sister, he said the public “can’t imagine” what the family is going through.
