LAND OF THE FREE: Americans freed by Russia in a historic prisoner swap were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Harris at Joint Base Andrews during what was only the beginning of an emotional reunion with loved ones. The latest on the developing story.

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Americans freed by Russia in prisoner swap land on US soil
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The plane carrying the Americans who were released by Moscow in exchange for eight Russians has landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

On board the plane was Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, as well as American veteran Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Members of the Wall Street Journal staff were seen on the tarmac, waiting for their colleague Gershkovich to step off the private Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500 twin-jet aircraft.

The freed prisoners were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when they arrived.

Biden and Harris approached the plane, and first out was Whelan, who was met with cheers.

After having a word with the president, Whelen walked over to his wife and got a hug.

Next out was Gershkovich, who was first greeted by Harris, and then Biden, whom he hugged.

Gershkovich walked over to his mother, picked her up and hugged her, then moved over to the rest of his family.

Gershkovitch later met some of his colleagues from the Wall Street Journal, shaking hands with some and hugging another who all came to welcome him back to the U.S.

Biden walked over and first greeted Kurmasheva. The two had words before she met with Harris.

After meeting with Biden, Harris and their families, Gershkovitch, Whelan and Kurmasheva were expected to board a plane before flying to San Antonio, Texas, where they will be evaluated.

President Biden spoke to reporters after a plane carrying three American prisoners who were released by Russia landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night.

Biden was asked about his feelings about getting the prisoners home and said, “satisfaction.”

He was also asked what his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin would be.

“Stop,” Biden said.

Biden told reporters, “There’s nothing beyond our capacity when we act together…Nothing…We’re the United States of America.”

Harris told reporters this is “the power of diplomacy.”

“This is an extraordinary day. I’m very thankful for our president and what he has done,” Harris said. “This is an incredible day and you can see it in the families.”

The mother of Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for the last three years criticized the Biden administration for not “trying hard enough” to include her son in a prisoner swap with Russia that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans, according to reports.

The New York Post reported that the 95-year-old Malphine Fogel said she was disappointed her 65-year-old son was overlooked again by Biden’s team when negotiating a deal to release Americans imprisoned in Russia.

Fogel, who works as a teacher, was sentenced to 14 years in a hard labor Russian penal colony after he was arrested for possessing medical marijuana that was prescribed to him for chronic back pain.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in 2022 after she was found in possession of cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage as she returned to the county to play basketball.

Griner was released on Dec. 8, 2022 in exchange for Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death,” or, one of the world’s most dangerous and infamous arms dealers.

Fogel remained in prison and continues to be today.

His mother spoke to The Post after learning about the prisoner swa on Thursday.

“I heard about it with pain on the news,” Malphine told The Post.

“I don’t think the administration is trying hard enough for him,” she added. “I guess because he is a common American citizen.”

While Malphine said she is happy for those who were released to their families, she cannot fathom why her son was not included.

She also called out Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, saying he “needs to be more forceful to get him designated unlawfully detained.”