President Biden led a crowd at the White House in singing “Happy Birthday” for Miriam Butorin, the daughter of one of the prisoners released in a swap with Russia. He called it a brutal ordeal and emphasized that his administration had brought home over 70 Americans who had been wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. Biden highlighted the executive actions taken to enforce sanctions and travel bans on those who detained these individuals, expressing admiration for their resilience.
The President acknowledged the families of the freed prisoners for never giving up hope and expressed empathy for what they had been through. He mentioned that the next day would be Miriam’s 13th birthday, leading to a heartfelt moment where he welcomed her into the Biden family tradition by singing “Happy Birthday” and offering her a hug. Biden lightened the mood with a joke before emphasizing the importance of Miriam being able to celebrate with her mother, who had been released from Russian custody.
The Biden administration has implemented sanctions and travel bans on countries that have taken Americans hostage, resulting in the release of over 70 prisoners. The recent exchange between Russia and Western nations led to the release of multiple prisoners, including Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov. When asked about the trade-off, Biden stated that he prioritized bringing home innocent people who had been wrongfully imprisoned.
Among the prisoners released were Americans, a permanent US green card holder, Germans, and Russian citizens. The freed individuals included Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, dual US-Russian citizen and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, and Washington Post columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza. These individuals had been imprisoned on unfounded espionage, spying, and treason charges related to speaking out against the Russian military’s actions.
Following the release of the four prisoners represented by their families at the White House, they were flown to Ankara, Turkey, before arriving in the US. Biden celebrated their freedom, declaring that their brutal ordeal was over and expressing relief that they were now free. The timing of the prisoners’ release coincided with Biden’s decision to abandon his 2024 re-election campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement on the Democratic ticket.
Overall, the White House event honoring the released prisoners highlighted the administration’s efforts to secure the return of Americans wrongfully detained abroad. The exchange with Russia exemplified a successful diplomatic resolution that prioritized reuniting individuals with their families after facing unjust imprisonment. The emotional moments shared with Miriam Butorin and her family underscored the human impact of such efforts and the importance of upholding justice and freedom on a global scale.
