All articles tagged with #detained americans
President Trump signed an executive order to create a 'state sponsor of wrongful detention' designation to penalize countries that wrongfully imprison Americans, potentially leading to sanctions, visa restrictions, and travel bans, with specific countries like Russia, China, Iran, and Afghanistan being of concern.
The United States has secured the release of three Americans, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung, who had been detained in China for years, through a prisoner swap with Beijing. The Americans were exchanged for unidentified Chinese nationals and are now in US custody. This diplomatic effort, led by the Biden administration, follows years of negotiations and comes shortly before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The release has been welcomed by the families of the detainees, who had been advocating for their return.
During his annual news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in his goals of "demilitarization" and "denazification" in Ukraine, suggesting that Western support for Ukraine is dwindling. He also commented on the detention of two Americans in Russia, stating that the Russian government is engaged in a "difficult" dialogue with U.S. authorities regarding their possible release. Putin addressed concerns about Russia's inflation and made a distinction between the actions of the Russian military and Israeli forces in Gaza. He also downplayed the upcoming Russian presidential election, indicating that he is widely expected to win another term.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia and the U.S. are engaged in a dialogue regarding a possible prisoner swap for two Americans detained in Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan. The U.S. government has declared that both are being wrongfully detained. Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to speculation that Moscow may be using the detained Americans as bargaining chips. The U.S. State Department has made offers for their release, but Moscow has rejected them. Gershkovich's pretrial detainment has been extended, while Whelan remains imprisoned on espionage charges.
During his annual news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin portrayed himself as a confident wartime leader, showing no signs of compromise in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. He reiterated his goals of "demilitarization" and "denazification" of Ukraine, while boasting that Ukraine's Western support was dwindling. Putin also commented on the detention of two Americans, Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, stating that Russia was in dialogue with the United States regarding their release. The event highlighted the war in Ukraine, with Putin attempting to assure Russians that the invasion would not disrupt their lives.
The United States made a "significant proposal" to Russia in an attempt to secure the release of detained Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, but Moscow rejected the offer. The proposal involved a prisoner exchange, but no further details were provided.
Five Americans detained in Iran, including Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and Morad Tahbaz, are set to be released on Monday as part of a prisoner swap. The release comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on a waiver of U.S. sanctions, allowing the transfer of approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil revenue. In exchange, Iran will release five Iranian detainees held in American prisons. Republicans have criticized the swap, expressing concerns about future hostage-taking and the release of funds to Iran, but the Biden administration maintains that Iran will receive no sanctions relief and that the funds will be used for humanitarian purposes.
The Biden administration expects the release of five Americans detained in Iran soon, following the State Department's notification to Congress that Iran will be granted access to $6 billion in frozen funds. The funds, earned through the sale of oil and other goods under sanctions, will be transferred from a bank in South Korea to one in Qatar. The release of the Americans is part of a broader deal that also includes the release of Iranians detained in the United States. The funds can only be used for humanitarian purposes, with oversight from the U.S. Treasury, Qatar, and aid organizations.
The recent detention of Pvt. 2nd Class soldier Travis King in North Korea has highlighted the challenges faced by the Biden administration in bringing home detained Americans. Negotiating King's release will be difficult as North Korea has rejected previous offers for talks and has a history of using detainees as leverage. The strained relations between the two countries and North Korea's aggressive stance on its nuclear and missile programs further complicate the situation. Biden has relied on prisoner swaps in the past, but securing the release of detained Americans will be an uphill battle.
US President Joe Biden said that the US and China are on the "right trail" after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing, during which the two nations agreed to stabilise their relations and maintain communication lines open to avoid an all-out conflict. Blinken is the highest-ranking US official to have visited the Chinese capital in five years. The US and China are also discussing the release of three US citizens detained in China, including a pastor, a businessman and a man convicted of spying charges.
Families of Americans detained abroad, part of the Bring Our Families Home Campaign, gathered in front of the White House to plead for a meeting with President Biden. They believe a meeting or phone call with the president would make the U.S. government act with more urgency in bringing their loved ones home. The group has repeatedly requested meetings with the president, but says they have been ignored. The families of more high-profile detainees have been given meetings, but the Bring Our Families Home Campaign has been left out.
US State Department special envoy for hostage affairs, Roger Carstens, has stated that the US can bring home two Americans detained in Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who have been jailed on espionage charges. Carstens, who has worked on high-profile cases including the prisoner swap that led to the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner, compares the speed and urgency of their work to a hospital emergency room. The US has brought back 26 Americans in the 26 months of the Biden administration.