WASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) – Tears of joy flowed in the Oval Office as families of prisoners like Evan Gershkovich, freed by Russia in the largest exchange since the Cold War, spoke to their loved ones by phone for the first time, a White House video showed on Thursday.
Tears in White House as families speak to prisoners released in Swap
“This is Mom. Can you hear me? It’s your mom,” Gershkovich’s mother tells her son, a Wall Street Journal reporter, in the emotional two-minute video of the virtual reunion, posted by President Joe Biden’s social media account on X.
"We just want to say how overwhelmed we are," Biden tells the released detainees as their families stand around the presidential Resolute Desk. "You've been wrongfully held for a long time, and we're glad you're home."
Russia on Thursday released Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and others as part of a sweeping multi-country exchange that the White House said involved 24 prisoners, including Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov, who was released by Germany.
