Majority Leader Schumer Statement On The Release Of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, And Vladimir Kara-Murza

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today released the following statement after the announcement of the historic release of wrongfully detained U.S. prisoners in Russia:

“After years of brutal and wrongful detention in Russia at the hands of Putin’s regime, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza are finally on their way home.  Today is a joyous day for their families who have waited a long time to see their loved ones.

“Throughout their heart wrenching imprisonment, they have remained strong and they have showed the world their incredible resilience and courage. I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Leader McConnell in a bipartisan show of unity to fight for their safe return, and I commend President Biden for getting them home. 

“I know very well that it took painstaking and intense negotiations to return these Americans to freedom. Vladimir Putin’s thuggish tactic of using Americans as bargaining chips only shows his weakness and desperation, not strength, as he seeks to bring back the failed Soviet-style repression at home and aggression abroad.

“For other Americans held hostage or unjustly imprisoned around the world, today shines as a beacon of hope that America will never give up on you and we will continue to everything we can to bring you home.”

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