Texas leaders react to US-Russia prisoner exchange bringing Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, others home

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas leaders are issuing statements of their reactions to a historic prisoner exchange that took place Thursday between the United States and Russia, which freed several Americans from Russian imprisonment, including a Wall Street Journal reporter and former U.S. Marine.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released in the exchange, along with journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, and five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were being held as political prisoners.

According to reporting from The Hill, Whelan was arrested in 2018 and later convicted of spying. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The U.S. government designated him “wrongfully detained” but had failed to secure his release in earlier prisoner exchanges that saw the release of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed and WNBA star Brittney Griner, who were released in separate exchanges in 2022.  

Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in March 2023 and accused of collecting state secrets on the Russian military on behalf of the U.S. government. He became the first American journalist to be detained in Russia since the Cold War and was sentenced in July to 16 years in prison, The Hill reported.

Sen. Ted Cruz

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today following the announcement of the releases:

“I’m pleased that these wrongfully detained Americans will finally be reunited with their loved ones here at home. Their release was long overdue. I have long called on Vladimir Putin and the Russian government to release them and for the United States to increase pressure on Russia until they did so. Their unjust detention is finally over.

“Hostage negotiations are among the most difficult and wrenching tasks that our diplomats face. It requires wrenching choices regarding the demands made by hostage-takers, and all too often about leaving Americans behind. This blackmail is precisely why hostage-taking regimes should be treated as out of bounds by the civilized international community.

“Today’s news revealed that Americans have indeed been left in unjust detention in Russia, and we must recommit ourselves to securing their release. I remain committed to advocating for every Texan and American who is being wrongly detained abroad, including Mark Swidan, a Texan who remains unjustly detained by the Chinese Communist Party, and Austin Tice. I call on the Biden administration will (sic) redouble its efforts to secure his freedom.”

Sen. Cruz

Sen. John Cornyn

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the announcement that Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich were released:

“I am relieved that Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich will soon return home after years of wrongful detention in Russia. The baseless charges, sham trials, and unjust imprisonment of these men is a stark reminder of Russia's blatant disregard for human rights and its continued oppression of innocent Americans.”

“I join the American people in celebrating the long-awaited release of Paul and Evan and urge the Biden Administration to continue working to secure the freedom of other innocent Americans, including Texans Austin Tice and Mark Swidan.”

Sen. Cornyn

Rep. Lloyd Doggett

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) issued the below statement:

“The release of the persecuted from the horrors of the Russian gulag is a cause for celebration. It reflects the skilled, determined efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration, coordinating with allies to reunite the innocent with their families.”

Rep. Doggett

KXAN has reached out to several Texas officials' offices to ask for their statements and will update this story when we receive responses.