02:07Mandatory credit: The White House
The US Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that the political prisoners exchange with Russia gave her "great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is finally over" while addressing Americans in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"American citizens Paul, Evan, Alsu, and green-card holder Vladimir, who were unjustly held in Russia, will soon be reunited with their loved ones. They and their families have shown incredible courage in the face of atrocious and devastating circumstances," she said.
Harris claimed that Moscow showed 'an appalling perversion of justice' by arresting, convicting people in sham trials, and sentencing them to long terms.
The US Vice President added that the exchange also included the release of Alexey Navalny's former colleagues and noted that she discussed 'the significance' of the swap with Yulia Navalnaya, the opposition leader's widow.
"The United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia," Harris said to Navalnaya, sharing details of the call.
She remarked that Washington "must also keep front of mind that there are other Americans that are unjustly being held in places around the world," and they "will never stop fighting for their release."
The US Vice President called it her 'honour' to bring home over 70 Americans while working with President Joe Biden, and stressed that they "will never waver in our commitment to bring home every American who has been wrongfully detained or held hostage."
Twenty-six individuals - 24 adults and two minors - were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.
'Horrible ordeal is finally over' - Harris on major swap deal with Russia, confirms call with Navalny's widow to discuss 'significance' of exchange
The US Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that the political prisoners exchange with Russia gave her "great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is finally over" while addressing Americans in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"American citizens Paul, Evan, Alsu, and green-card holder Vladimir, who were unjustly held in Russia, will soon be reunited with their loved ones. They and their families have shown incredible courage in the face of atrocious and devastating circumstances," she said.
Harris claimed that Moscow showed 'an appalling perversion of justice' by arresting, convicting people in sham trials, and sentencing them to long terms.
The US Vice President added that the exchange also included the release of Alexey Navalny's former colleagues and noted that she discussed 'the significance' of the swap with Yulia Navalnaya, the opposition leader's widow.
"The United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia," Harris said to Navalnaya, sharing details of the call.
She remarked that Washington "must also keep front of mind that there are other Americans that are unjustly being held in places around the world," and they "will never stop fighting for their release."
The US Vice President called it her 'honour' to bring home over 70 Americans while working with President Joe Biden, and stressed that they "will never waver in our commitment to bring home every American who has been wrongfully detained or held hostage."
Twenty-six individuals - 24 adults and two minors - were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.
Mandatory credit: The White House
The US Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that the political prisoners exchange with Russia gave her "great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is finally over" while addressing Americans in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"American citizens Paul, Evan, Alsu, and green-card holder Vladimir, who were unjustly held in Russia, will soon be reunited with their loved ones. They and their families have shown incredible courage in the face of atrocious and devastating circumstances," she said.
Harris claimed that Moscow showed 'an appalling perversion of justice' by arresting, convicting people in sham trials, and sentencing them to long terms.
The US Vice President added that the exchange also included the release of Alexey Navalny's former colleagues and noted that she discussed 'the significance' of the swap with Yulia Navalnaya, the opposition leader's widow.
"The United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia," Harris said to Navalnaya, sharing details of the call.
She remarked that Washington "must also keep front of mind that there are other Americans that are unjustly being held in places around the world," and they "will never stop fighting for their release."
The US Vice President called it her 'honour' to bring home over 70 Americans while working with President Joe Biden, and stressed that they "will never waver in our commitment to bring home every American who has been wrongfully detained or held hostage."
Twenty-six individuals - 24 adults and two minors - were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.