Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich finally touched down on US soil late Thursday night after spending more than a year in a hellish Russian prison — and becoming the first American journalist to be arrested for alleged spying since the Cold War.
The 32-year-old journalist, as well as freed hostages Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The trio were among 24 prisoners from the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Russia and Belarus freed as part of the largest exchange since the Cold War.
The US government released a photo earlier in the day showing Gershkovich smiling while holding a flag with Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, and former Marine Whelan.
US permanent resident and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was also freed, was not pictured.
Gershkovich’s family said in an earlier statement they can’t wait to give their loved one “the biggest hug.”
“We have waited 491 days for Evan’s release, and it’s hard to describe what today feels like. We can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close,” his family said, per the Wall Street Journal.
“Most important now is taking care of Evan and being together again. No family should have to go through this, and so we share relief and joy today with Paul and Alsu’s families.”
Gershkovich was arrested last year and accused of spying on March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, which the US and the Wall Street Journal have forcefully shot down as fabricated accusations.
He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison following a close-door trial that was widely criticized by international leadership.
He spent about 16 months behind bars leading up to the prisoner exchange — and freedom.