‘Their Brutal Ordeal Is Over:’ Biden Addresses Russian Prisoner Swap Of Journalists, Marine

President Joe Biden said their “brutal ordeal” is over for three American citizens, two journalists and a former Marine, who were arrested and held in Russia, accused of spying.

Evan Gershkovich, reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were both released in a historic prisoner swap on Thursday, the biggest since the Cold War.

Also released were Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian American journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist who holds an American green card.

“This is a good day,” Biden said at a press conference with family members of the prisoners. “Now their brutal ordeal is over and they are free.”

“This is an incredible relief for all the families gathered here,” Biden said. “It’s a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who have been praying for this day for a long time.”