WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding news of a brokered deal between several nations, including the United States, and the Russian government to free a number of political prisoners held in Russia:
“After years of detention in the harshest Russian prisons, Paul Whelan, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva have been freed of their abuse at the hands of the Kremlin and are soon to be returned to their families. Paul has spent five long, punishing years in prison on false charges, and I am relieved he will finally be safe at home. The news that seven Russian political prisoners were freed in this exchange is also good news. These Russian citizens’ only crime was that they dared to speak the truth that Vladimir Putin is afraid to hear.
“While I am glad to see the return of these wrongfully detained Americans, we must not forget those who were left behind: Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina. The United States paid a steep price for this exchange, as those returning to Russia are some of Putin’s most valuable assets who will be glad to return to their villainous ways. Despite this, we still could not bring everyone home. Efforts to free those two must be redoubled, along with ways to deter future hostage diplomacy. Americans deserve to feel safe and secure at home and abroad, and the most important work our government can do is to make sure it is so.”
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