Australia welcomed the prisoner exchange conducted yesterday between Russia and Belarus on one side, and the United States and other Western countries on the other.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on her “X” platform page, “Australia welcomes the release of 16 prisoners from Russia, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Oleg Orlov, and Ivan Zhershkovich.”
Wong added, “We continue to urge Russia to fulfill its human rights obligations,” according to her tweet.
The Turkish presidency announced yesterday that 26 individuals detained in prisons across seven different countries, including the United States and Russia, were exchanged in a significant operation conducted in Ankara.
The prisoners also included individuals from jails in Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Belarus.
Three Americans who were freed in a prisoner swap deal with Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, have arrived back on US soil.
All three were greeted by US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris before they embraced their families.
Speaking ahead of their return, Biden welcomed their release and declared: “Their brutal ordeal is over.”
He praised the role played by America’s allies, particularly Germany and Slovenia, and hailed the release of Whelan, Gershkovich and Kurmasheva, as well as leading Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, as a “feat of diplomacy”.
