The Biden-Harris Administration Shows us the Art of the Deal
Evan Gershkovich and the American-Russian Prisoner Swap
The United States and Russia are currently in the midst of perhaps one of the largest and most complex prisoner swaps in both countries’ history. Among the American prisoners included in this exchange are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan - both of whom were detained and arrested on trumped-up charges of espionage. Reuters reports that Alexander Vinnik, Maxim Marchenko, Vadim Konoshchenok, and Vladislav Klyushin will be released from American custody as part of the prisoner swap. These four individuals faced charges in the United States related to wire fraud, money laundering, sanctions evasion, and cybercrime. This swap also includes the release of Russians held currently in custody within NATO members like Vadim Krasikov in Germany and Ludwig Gisch and Maria Rosa Mayer Munos in Slovenia.
In addition to saving unjustly detained Americans, today’s prisoner swap involves the release of several Russian opposition members and journalists that have been vocal critics of Putin’s government. These political prisoners include Ilya Yashin, Alsu Kurmasheva, and my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza. The bravery of these individuals that chose to resist Putin’s tyranny cannot be overstated, and the fact that Putin would only release them in exchange for the return of criminals and saboteurs shouldn’t be overlooked.
From my point of view, the Biden-Harris administration is showing us the Art of the Deal in action. In exchange for releasing the low-level cogs of Russia’s intelligence operations abroad, the Biden admin is receiving several high-profile American detainees in Russia. The return of Americans illegally detained in Russia, including Britney Griner in 2022, should be seen as an absolute win by the Biden administration. Trump’s need for Putin’s personal approval and willingness to let Otto Warmbier perish in North Korean prison while buddying up to Kim Jong Un should be a hint as to how his administration would have handled this situation. Furthermore, we should look at today’s swap as a signal that Russia has doubts regarding a Trump victory in November: if Moscow was confident of Trump’s chances, Russia would have possibly waited till January for a prisoner swap and handed Trump an easy diplomatic victory.
Congratulations to the Biden-Harris administration and safe travels home to the Americans freed in today’s swap.
The deal was done for the benefit of the imprisoned, not for any personal reward, something the orange traitor would never, could never do.
This was a good day.
Love "....the Biden-Harris administration is showing us the Art of the Deal in action."