U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed gratitude to Turkey for its role in a prisoner swap operation coordinated by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT). The operation involved the exchange of 26 individuals from seven countries, including three Americans and eight Russians.
The swap resulted in the return of three Americans, including former soldier Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich, whom Biden described as being unjustly imprisoned in Russia.
Biden stated, “I am deeply grateful to Turkey, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway for their efforts in achieving this outcome.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed thanks to the Turkish government for ensuring the safe return of the individuals to the U.S. and Germany.
