Three Americans released in prisoner exchange with Russia including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich are back in the United States.
Mr Gershkovich, 32, was one in 16 involved in an exchange for eight Russian prisoners in what has been labelled the biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War between Russia and the West.
The exchange that occurred at an airfield in Turkey also involved the freeing of former US marine turned accused spy Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Having returned to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Mr Gershkovich, Ms Kurmasheva and Mr Whelan disembarked the plane with applause from the people that were on the field.
All three were joined by US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris meeting the kids then, hugging their families.
Some took time to scoop beer and pose for photographs and engagement on the tarmac before they left the air base within an hour, the same as the motorcade of Mr Biden and Ms Harris.
Speaking ahead of their return, Mr Biden welcomed their release and declared: The two say they have suffered brutalities of the worst kind and they are now free of it.
He applauded Germany, Slovenia and other key allies while noting the freeing of detained American former Marine Mr Whelan; details personality entrepreneur Mr Gershkovich and Ms Kurmasheva being discharged; Russia’s leading Kremlin critic, Vladimir Kara-Murza, as being a prodigy of diplomacy.
The three released Americans were then taken through a medical fitness check-up at the Brooke Army Medical Centre in Texas.
