Russia releases Americans in massive prisoner swap

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Three Americans are expected to land on U.S. soil Thursday night after a large-scale prisoner swap involving multiple countries.

From the Oval Office, families spoke with their newly freed family members.

“Their brutal ordeal is over. And they're free,” President Joe Biden said.

Four Americans were freed from Russian custody, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Michigan security executive Paul Whelan, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, an American green card holder who is now headed to Germany.

The exchange happened on a tarmac in Turkey.

Russia and Belarus released 16 prisoners. Six countries in the West released eight prisoners, including a man found guilty of shooting and killing someone in a park in Germany on Russia's behalf.

Republicans criticized the Biden administration for exchanging prisoners.

 “It encourages future kidnapping,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said.

But President Biden says he wanted to keep families together.

“Blood of my blood, bone of my bones. I can think of nothing more consequential,” Biden said.

The White House says officials agonized over whether prisoner swaps put more Americans at risk.

However, the national security adviser says the White House believes the benefits outweigh the risks.