WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Co-Chairs of the Hostage Task Force in the House, commended the release of Americans Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, along with U.S. Green Card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza, from Russia.

“I am overjoyed that Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir are coming home,” said Rep. Hill. “After being wrongfully detained by Russia for far too long, our fellow Americans are going to reunite with their families and loved ones. Putin has a pattern of wrongfully detaining Americans, and this cannot continue. Russia must be held accountable, and the U.S. must do more to stop this trend that you can take and wrongfully hold an American with impunity. As Co-Chairs of the Hostage Task Force in the House, we remain committed to being a voice for Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world.”

“Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir, welcome home! For too long, each of you was held as a political pawn, with your liberty stripped away,” said Rep. Stevens. “You have each lost so much, but we are looking forward to helping you rebuild your lives. Thank you to President Biden and our allies who made this remarkable exchange possible.”