Quotes
It feels wonderful, it was a long time coming, ... Alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us."
Biden told reporters gathered at the air base, adding This is such incredible news, and I am tremendously thankful to everyone who supported and advocated for Alsu’s release in the wake of Russia's callous injustice,
USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett said in a statement It’s certainly a reminder for all of our reporters who are in dangerous places that journalism is a risky business,
I’m going to say, ‘Nice to meet you,’
Alsu was targeted because she was an American journalist who was simply trying to take care of a family member inside Russia. She did nothing wrong and certainly did not deserve the unjust treatment and forced separation from her loving family members and colleagues,
RFE/RL’s president and CEO Stephen Capus said in the statement Alsu’s release makes us even more determined to secure the freedom of three other RFE/RL journalists,
We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family, as well as for the others who were released,
the Journal’s publisher, Almar Latour, and Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker said in a statement They’re old enough to understand the brutality of the regime that captured their mother,
he told VOA in early July at their Prague home Now she gets to celebrate with her mom,
And on the way back home from school, she would always bring snacks, and we would always talk about our day. I really miss that,
I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family,
I want to congratulate you on your return to the motherland,
We held our breath and crossed our fingers,
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said We can't wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close,
This is an extraordinary day. I’m very thankful for our president and what he has done. This is an incredible day, and you can see it in the families."
While addressing reporters, Harris stepped in and said My job is to make sure ... we get them back,
Biden told reporters a short time later 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. 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’s family said earlier in a statement It was a symbol that we don’t abandon our people,
I know Evan and Paul will come home to the United States and step onto U.S. soil. I just don't know when,
he said during an interview at the Aspen Security Forum on July 17. The toughest call on this one was for other countries, because I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self-interest,
Mr. Biden told reporters on the tarmac