Quotes
All journalists & rights defenders detained solely for doing their jobs must be freed".
The United Nations Human Rights Office echoed this sentiment, stating in a post on X I am thrilled that wrongfully detained Americans are now free and reunited with their families, and I am grateful to the Government of Türkiye for extraordinary support in making today possible."
Flake posted a message on X saying Türkiye continues to be a vital partner and ally, and we will work with them on a tremendous deal of things, but I'm not going to speak to the specifics of this process,
We are thankful for Türkiye's role as it relates to that (the swap deal),
U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters The European Union is relieved by the release and transfer to freedom outside Russia and Belarus of a number of political prisoners, including EU citizens, facilitated with the help of Türkiye,
foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement by the bloc's External Action Service The right to peaceful opposition and freedom of the media are vital for any functioning society."
Praising close cooperation between NATO members for this effort, he said I welcome the release of 16 people unjustly imprisoned by the Russian regime."
Thanking all actors who helped make the deal possible, EU Council President Charles Michel said EU will continue supporting and standing for all those illegally detained in Russia and elsewhere,
Their freedom should have never been in jeopardy,
There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”
Deals like this one come with tough calls,
Biden said according to a report by Associated Press It feels wonderful, it was a long time coming,
Biden told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, where he and Harris welcomed the freed prisoners at around 11.40pm It feels wonderful. Long time in coming. I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. I meant it when I said — alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us and it mattered a lot,
the President told reporters My job is to make sure ... we get them back,
Biden told reporters a short time later Paul Whelan is not in a Russian labor colony any longer, but he is not home,
his family wrote in a statement No word is strong enough for this. I was sure I was going to die in prison,
Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza tells his family as they weep Every parent, child, spouse and loved one who joined me in the Oval Office today has been praying for this day for a long time,
Biden posted about the deal, which was negotiated in secrecy for more than a year We just want to say how overwhelmed we are,
Biden tells the released detainees as the families stand around the presidential Resolute Desk This is an incredible day, I can see it in the families, in their eyes and in their cries,
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.
