1 00:00:01,468 --> 00:00:04,838 GEOFF BENNETT: Rarely has an airport# seen such joy after very long delays,## 2 00:00:04,838 --> 00:00:10,844 but last night was no ordinary night at Joint# Base Andrews just east of Washington, D.C. 3 00:00:10,844 --> 00:00:15,148 Three Americans held by Russia returned# home to a presidential welcome. 4 00:00:15,148 --> 00:00:17,183 Nick Schifrin is here with that -- Nick. 5 00:00:17,183 --> 00:00:20,687 NICK SCHIFRIN: Geoff, perhaps even more# important than the hugs and handshakes from## 6 00:00:20,687 --> 00:00:26,559 the president and the vice president, the joy and# the relief of the families of Evan Gershkovich,## 7 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:34,501 Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan, as they greeted# their loved ones after months, even years apart. 8 00:00:34,501 --> 00:00:40,006 First, he had to shake the commander in# chief's hand, but then Evan Gershkovich## 9 00:00:40,006 --> 00:00:46,146 got to hug his mom and lift her as she# had raised him up during his detention. 10 00:00:46,146 --> 00:00:53,253 Ella Milman wrote Evan every week and worked# tirelessly to secure his safety for 491 days. 11 00:00:53,253 --> 00:00:55,155 QUESTION: What about the show of support? 12 00:00:55,155 --> 00:00:57,724 EVAN GERSHKOVICH, The Wall# Street Journal: It's -- it's... 13 00:00:57,724 --> 00:00:59,426 (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) 14 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:00,794 EVAN GERSHKOVICH: Yes, it's overwhelming. 15 00:01:00,794 --> 00:01:03,396 NICK SCHIFRIN: Paul Whelan's# reunion with his sister, Elizabeth,## 16 00:01:03,396 --> 00:01:08,234 took five-and-a-half years. She'd previously# criticized President Biden for leaving her## 17 00:01:08,234 --> 00:01:13,273 brother behind in previous trades.# Overnight, the three shared a smile. 18 00:01:13,273 --> 00:01:20,346 And Alsu Kurmasheva, after a brief vice# presidential embrace, held her daughters## 19 00:01:20,346 --> 00:01:25,485 and husband tight. They'd been separated for# nearly a year while she was detained and then## 20 00:01:25,485 --> 00:01:30,924 convicted of spreading false information.# Three American families are whole again. 21 00:01:30,924 --> 00:01:32,759 GIRL: We're in the Oval Office. 22 00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:33,827 NICK SCHIFRIN: Just hours earlier,## 23 00:01:33,827 --> 00:01:38,064 Kurmasheva's daughters and all the family# member.. 24 00:01:38,064 --> 00:01:39,065 PAUL WHELAN, Freed Prisoner: Paul Whelan here. 25 00:01:39,065 --> 00:01:40,934 JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: I.. 26 00:01:40,934 --> 00:01:42,001 (LAUGHTER) 27 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:45,872 JOE BIDEN: She's back. She knows the Oval Office# .. 28 00:01:45,872 --> 00:01:48,541 WOMAN: Paul, it's incredible. 29 00:01:48,541 --> 00:01:49,843 NICK SCHIFRIN: There was one more call to make,## 30 00:01:49,843 --> 00:01:54,914 to Vladimir Kara-Murza, sentenced to# 25 years for treason f.. 31 00:01:54,914 --> 00:01:59,853 of journalism and pro-democracy activism# that included two failed poisoning attempts. 32 00:02:01,154 --> 00:02:04,157 His work was continued by his wife, Evgenia... 33 00:02:04,157 --> 00:02:04,924 EVGENIA KARA-MURZA, Wife of# Vladimir Kara-Murza: Hello, hello. 34 00:02:04,924 --> 00:02:07,060 NICK SCHIFRIN: ... whom he# thou.. 35 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:08,595 VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA, Russian Opposition# Politician: No word is strong enough for this.## 36 00:02:08,595 --> 00:02:12,332 I was sure I'm going to die in prison. There's --# I don't believe what's .. 37 00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:17,570 a -- I still think I'm sleeping in my prison# cell in Omsk, instead of hearing your voice. 38 00:02:17,570 --> 00:02:20,473 NICK SCHIFRIN: Kara-Murza has a green# card, but traveled to Germany with the## 39 00:02:20,473 --> 00:02:24,511 other released Russian dissidents,# who vowed to continue their work. 40 00:02:24,511 --> 00:02:26,679 VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA (through translator):# I not only believe and not only think,## 41 00:02:26,679 --> 00:02:30,917 I know for sure that I will definitely# return to Russia, and that the day will## 42 00:02:30,917 --> 00:02:36,422 definitely come when Russia will become a# free, normal, civilized European country. 43 00:02:36,422 --> 00:02:40,326 NICK SCHIFRIN: Ilya Yashin was also released# from Russian detention as part of the swap## 44 00:02:40,326 --> 00:02:44,230 after his conviction for spreading false# information for criticizing the war in## 45 00:02:44,230 --> 00:02:50,837 Ukraine. He said he demanded not to be freed# in a prison swap that would only empower Putin. 46 00:02:50,837 --> 00:02:51,804 ILYA YASHIN, Russian Opposition Politician# (through translator): In exchange for the## 47 00:02:51,804 --> 00:02:56,843 release of one murderer, 16 innocent peopl.. 48 00:02:56,843 --> 00:03:01,981 is a difficult dilemma, including because it# certainly motivates Putin to take new hostages. 49 00:03:01,981 --> 00:03:03,983 NICK SCHIFRIN: As for the Americans, at 2:00 a.m.,## 50 00:03:03,983 --> 00:03:09,289 they arrived at a rehabilitation facility in# San Antonio. And after unveiling the official## 51 00:03:09,289 --> 00:03:14,460 U.S. hostages And wrongful detainees# flag, Paul Whelan said he felt relief. 52 00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:16,663 PAUL WHELAN: It was a good homecoming here. So,## 53 00:03:16,663 --> 00:03:20,667 looking forward to seeing my family down# here and just recuperating from five years,## 54 00:03:20,667 --> 00:03:24,971 seven months, and five days of just# absolute nonsense by the Russian government.