The minute you pay for a hostage, you give an incentive to people to take more hostages."
Today, a reporter of Deutsche Welle approached them to ask for an interview. And then they asked us if we could help out with some facilities, with some rooms, so that they could meet with the German and international media to tell their story,
Easy decisions are taken by dictators" but the "difference between dictatorship and democracy is that human life is the ultimate value of democracy, ... This is not the case in a dictatorship."
The tradition of authoritarian power, the tradition of aggressive war, and the tradition revived again to not respect others' rights,
Life was given to me again and it's very important,
I didn't sign a condition for a pardon, but I was still pardoned. We never gave our consent [to be expelled from Russia], yet here we are,
God, it is such happiness! I cried so much when I found out. And later, too. And I'm about to cry again now, as well,
I said, I am not going to be asked to be freed, to admit any guilt, I will not go to a person I consider a tyrant, a murderer, an enemy of his own country for a favor,
I am also sad that over a thousand people are still in prison,
Don't believe the lies that are disseminated by Kremlin propaganda,
I don't want to be on a list" and "will not leave Russia,
The Russians made a great deal. I'm not going to criticize it, because it's good to have them home, but they got a phenomenal deal, and that sets a very bad precedent,
Why didn't he do it when he was president?"
Are we also paying them cash ... Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs?"
I wouldn't have made the deal for a hundred people in exchange for someone that has killed untold numbers of people with his arms deals."
Our 'negotiators' are always an embarrassment to us! I got back many hostages, and gave the opposing Country NOTHING – and never any cash. To do so is bad precedent for the future. That's the way it should be, or this situation will get worse and worse. They are extorting the United States of America. They're calling the trade 'complex' – That's so nobody can figure out how bad it is!"
Trump said he could've gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange. What do you say to that?"
Early on, we were discouraged from speaking out about Paul's case. But we believe the media attention has been a crucial factor in securing Paul's freedom. Those first years were hard when the Trump Administration ignored Paul's wrongful detention."
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,
We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family, as well as for the others who were released,