The United States and Russia have completed their biggest prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War. 16 prisoners from different countries were exchanged for ten Russian prisoners at an airfield at Ankara in Turkey in a multinational deal. Three Americans including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva who were freed by Russia, arrived back on US soil  at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, shortly before midnight for a joyful reunion with their families. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also there to greet the three of them. The exchange also included the release of leading Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza by Russia.

The three released Americans will be transported to the Brooke Army Medical Centre in Texas for a medical check-up.

Speaking ahead of their return, President Biden welcomed their release. He praised the role played by America’s allies, particularly Germany and Slovenia, and hailed the release as a feat of diplomacy.

The deal had been more than 18 months in the making and is reported to have hinged on Moscow’s demand for the return of Vadim Krasikov – who was serving a life sentence in Germany for carrying out an assassination in a Berlin park. He is now back in Russia.

Turkey’s presidency said, in total, 26 people from prisons in seven different countries were exchanged in Ankara. It said in a statement, the prisoners were from the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus. The statement added, ten people, including two minors, were relocated to Russia, 13 prisoners to Germany, and three to the US.