August 1, 2024 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) issued the following statement today on the release of four Americans – Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza – who were wrongfully detained in Russia: "For the past 16 months, Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime has held Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in a decrepit, Stalin-era prison. He was imprisoned not for anything he did but for what he represents: the citizen of a democracy that cherishes freedom of speech and the press – a journalist committed to reporting the truth. "I'm elated that the Biden-Harris Administration secured Evan's release earlier today, as well as the return of American and former Marine Paul Whelan, who has been held in Russia for six years on similarly baseless charges of espionage, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. I am relieved that Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza was also released. I had the privilege of meeting him on his past visits to the Capitol and have spoken out against his arbitrary imprisonment and Putin's multiple attempts on his life. "These prisoners' ordeal is a reminder of who Putin really is: a dictator who fancies himself as a twenty-first century Stalin – not a sympathetic leader to be courted and placated, as the American far-right too often tries to do. From his criminal invasion of Ukraine to his murder of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putin is a thug and an enemy of freedom. Those who disagree ought to ask Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva, and Kara-Murza for their take. "I am so pleased to join in the celebrations of the families who can now reunite with their loved ones. Welcome home."