Several countries have agreed to a massive prisoner exchange deal in which Russia has agreed to release several journalists and critics of the Kremlin it had detained in recent years. It is believed to be the largest prisoner swap involving Russia since the Cold War.

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the United States has secured the release of 16 people, including four American citizens or residents: Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter; Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian dissident; and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine.