Evan Gershkovich is free – and keen to raise plight of Russian political prisoners

For a brief moment, no one seemed to realize that Evan Gershkovich had just stepped foot on American land as a released individual.

Everyone was focused on Paul Whelan, a former marine who had been imprisoned in Russia for over 2,000 days, mostly unknown to the public as his family begged the White House to bring him back home. Now, Joe Biden was guiding him with his arm, while Vice President Kamala Harris watched nearby.

However, Harris suddenly noticed Gershkovich behind him, who raised his arms as if to say, "Here I am!" She jokingly copied his gesture in surprise. They embraced, creating a memorable moment.

Shortly after, Gershkovich approached his mother, Ella, who had worked diligently to communicate with presidents, chancellors, and other high-ranking officials to arrange a risky and intricate exchange of prisoners that would ultimately result in his release from a Russian prison. He embraced her tightly, lifting her off the ground in a warm hug. It was a flawless and heartwarming moment.

At last, he walked over to the group of over 100 journalists who were waiting for him. He was ready to say hello to his coworkers and answer any questions, even though he had just been released earlier that morning. When he was asked how it felt to be free, he casually replied: "It's alright."

He also talked about his emotions when getting on the bus with the other released prisoners on Thursday and mentioned that he was pleased to see Russians on board too.

I have something important to mention. I was happy to board the bus today and see not only Americans and Germans but also Russian prisoners of conscience.

I was in Yekaterinburg prison for a month with fellow political prisoners. Not many people are aware of them, as they have different political views and are not all supporters of Navalny. I am interested in possibly helping them too. I plan to discuss this with others in the upcoming weeks and months.

Many reporters, including some who were friends, arrived at the base to see the released prisoners for the first time. These detainees had been held captive in Russia for almost ten years in total. They were part of a group of 16 individuals, including Americans, Russian dissidents, and Germans, who were released by Russia in exchange for eight Russians who were freed by the US, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, and Poland. Among those going back to Russia were some undercover agents and a convicted assassin from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) whom Vladimir Putin had been trying to free from a German prison for a long time.

To those watching, it was uplifting to see how effortlessly Gershkovich acted during the event with his friends and colleagues. The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, with a playful and carefree vibe that reminded them of a time before his arrest and rise to fame in the US and internationally.

However, his reaction to the 491 days he spent in a Russian prison for espionage was also very sincere and serious. He had a strong sense of purpose and understood the gravity of the situation, as this was the largest prisoner exchange since the cold war.

He embraced with sincerity. He made eye contact while you talked. And when he talked about the struggle of the political prisoners in Russia, his eyes filled with tears. It was clear that this was a cause close to his heart.

During a short time at the airbase on Thursday, he said and did all the right things to make everyone around him feel comfortable. He spoke briefly with the press corps, which sometimes felt political and almost like a quick campaign event. However, despite being suddenly in the public eye, Gershkovich seemed surprisingly comfortable and relaxed.