US President Joe Biden has hailed the prisoner swap with Russia that saw the return of US journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan as a "feat of diplomacy" that has ended their "agony".
"The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," Biden said, confirming that three US citizens and one permanent resident were among the 16 people freed by Russia, also including five Germans and seven Russians.
"Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over," he said in a statement.
The deal that secured the freedom of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir was a feat of diplomacy.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 1, 2024
All told, we've negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia – some of whom were unjustly held for years.
All have endured unimaginable suffering.
Today, their agony is over.
Mr Biden criticised the Russian "show trials" that led to the imprisonment of Evan Gershkovich and others released in a massive East-West prisoner swap.
"Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials and sentenced them to long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever, none," Mr Biden said.
Wall Street Journal relieved
Leadership at the Wall Street Journal said they were "overwhelmed with relief" that reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained in Russia since March 2023, was released in the prisoner swap.
"We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family," publisher Almar Latour and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said in a statement.
They added: "Unfortunately many journalists remain unjustly imprisoned in Russia and around the world."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the release of prisoners.
"We will continue to call on Russia to uphold freedom of political expression," he said.
Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed the release of Irish citizen Paul Whelan.
"I know this will be an enormous relief to his family who have campaigned for many years for his release.
"I would also like to thank Ireland's diplomatic team in Russia and our consular team in Dublin for their years of tireless work on this case."
Exchange leaves 'bitter taste’ - Amnesty
Amnesty International condemned what it called the "bitter taste" of one of the biggest East-West prisoner swaps since the Cold War, warning it risked encouraging impunity for convicted criminals.
Several Russian opposition figures are reported to have been freed as part of the deal while Russia is set to receive several prisoners held in the West in return.
Among them is Vadim Krasikov, a Russian citizen imprisoned in Germany for assassinating a former Chechen rebel commander.
Christian Mihr, deputy general secretary of Amnesty International in Germany, said he was "very relieved" that the deal had secured the release of several Russian opposition figures, adding that "what they have endured is unbelievable".
But in a statement Mihr warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is clearly instrumentalising the law in order to use political prisoners as pawns".
"The exchange therefore leaves a bitter taste," Mihr said, pointing out that on one side of the deal were "a murderer and other criminals who have been convicted in a fair trial" and on the other, "people who have just exercised their right to free speech".
"The prisoner exchange is therefore a step towards broadening impunity," Mihr said.
He warned that the Russian government "could feel emboldened to carry out further political arrests and human rights violations with no fear of the consequences".
