BREAKING..Evan Gershkovich to stand trial in Russia on espionage charges[update]

[mountaineer]

“I don’t think the administration is trying hard enough for him,” she added. “I guess because he is a common American citizen.”

I think the administration will take its own sweet time because Mrs. Fogel had the temerity to agree to go onstage at a Trump rally (her appearance preempted by an assassination attempt).

[American Girl]

Excerpt from the article:
On Thursday, a joyful bit of news emerged about the United States securing the release of Americans (and others) who were being held unjustly in Russian prisons. Among them, former US Marine Paul Whelan, who had been detained for around six years. Late Thursday night into early Friday morning, these Americans finally returned home, touching down on U.S. soil.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were present at Joint Base Andrews to greet them. What should have been a heartwarming scene of homecoming turned into a moment of confusion and criticism. President Biden’s appearance, noted by many as somewhat vacant, sparked concern and comments about his alertness. Commentator Stephen L. Miller captured the sentiment of many when he remarked, “Who is president right now?” after Biden greeted families for a few minutes, turned towards reporters, and then abruptly stopped talking, leading to Kamala Harris interrupting him.





Damn. Now they will never let the Wizard of Word Salad go off the teleprompter again


Joe's mind: I'm a sick bastard but Kamala is stupid as stupid goes... Ice Cream


https://www.rightjournalism.com/kamala-gives-her-first-remarks-off-teleprompter-it-went-exactly-how-youd-expect-just-look-at-joe-bidens-face/

[catfish1957]

A little off topic, but I saw today the Kos Kiddies (can't believe RCP listed it) has a national poll with Kamel-uh up 4.

I'd give them a $100, if they would let me have full access to their raw data and protocols.

[mountaineer]

Video:

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1819354869142360402

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Excerpt from the article:
On Thursday, a joyful bit of news emerged about the United States securing the release of Americans (and others) who were being held unjustly in Russian prisons. Among them, former US Marine Paul Whelan, who had been detained for around six years. Late Thursday night into early Friday morning, these Americans finally returned home, touching down on U.S. soil.

Of course it is joyous to get Americans back, but it is the manner in which it was done that is depressing.

To release known murderers in exchange is unacceptable and encourages future kidnapping/detainment.

Possess strength like Israel with overwhelming force in response to terror and those future kidnappings will be minimized as the terror leaders fear for their lives.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1819224230505877641

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/atensnut/status/1819364382511350258

[mystery-ak]

Biden and Harris greet freed prisoners from Russia on tarmac
By
Jack Birle
August 2, 2024 8:57 am
.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the U.S. citizens freed from Russia as they arrived back on American soil at Joint Base Andrews late Thursday night.

The United States secured the release of 16 people from Russia on Thursday, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

Whelan was the first to exit the plane, with the former Marine greeting Biden by asking how he was. During their interaction, Biden gave his American flag pin off his lapel to Whelan, who had been detained in Russia since 2018.


President Joe Biden places his American flag pin on Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, following Whelan’s release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


Reporter Evan Gershkovich hugs his mother, Ella Milman, as President Joe Biden looks on at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3108542/biden-harris-greet-freed-prisoners-from-russia-tarmac/

[mountaineer]

Who was released in the prisoner swap?

... There are eight Russians who were released from various Western countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s primary prisoner he wanted freed, Vadim Krasikov.

Krasikov, a former high-ranking FSB colonel, was convicted of murdering a former Chechen fighter in Berlin in 2019 and was later sentenced to life in prison. His inclusion in a deal was critical to secure Russia’s willingness to do this proposal.

A German government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said they “did not take this decision lightly. The state’s interest in executing the prison sentence of a convicted criminal was offset by the freedom, physical well-being and – in some cases – ultimately the lives of innocent people imprisoned in Russia and those wrongfully imprisoned for political reasons,” Hebestreit added. “Our obligation to protect German citizens and solidarity with the United States were important motivators.”

Vadim Konoshchenok ... is a Russian citizen with alleged ties to Russian intelligence who was facing charges in the U.S. for his role in a global procurement and money laundering network on behalf of the Kremlin. He was detained in Russia on Oct. 27, 2022, and was extradited to the U.S. on July 13, 2023. He faced a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Vladislav Klyushin ... was sentenced in the U.S. last year to nine years in prison for his role in what officials described as “an elaborate hack-to-trade scheme” that netted nearly $100 million based on confidential corporate information stolen from U.S. computer networks. He was arrested in Switzerland in 2021 and was extradited to the U.S. later that year.

Roman Valeryevich Seleznev ... was arrested in the Maldives in 2014. He was then extradited to the U.S. where he was sentenced in April 2017 to 14 years in prison for his role in a $50 million cyberfraud ring, according to the Department of Justice.

Artem and Anna Dultsev ... Russian spies, were arrested in Slovenia in late 2022. They posed as Ludwig Gisch and Maria Mayer, an Argentinian couple. The Ljubljana regional court sentenced the pair to more than a year and a half in prison, equivalent to time served, and ordered their expulsion from Slovenia.

Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin ..., a Russian spy, was arrested in Norway in 2022 as he pretended to be a Brazilian researcher. In 2023, he confessed his real Russian name.

Pavel Rubtsov ... was a Russian spy living in Poland under the false pretense of being a Spanish journalist. He was arrested in February 2022.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3107580/who-released-prisoner-swap-brought-evan-gershkovich-paul-whelan-home/

[mystery-ak]

better video

https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1819393683751313898

[mountaineer]

Malphine Fogel told me it was “gut-wrenching” to see that her son was not included in yesterday’s prison release. She said Biden has not spoken to her at all about Marc Fogel.

https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1819506640137433574

[Hoodat]

Video:

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1819354869142360402

Biden looks like he's on Thorazine.

[mountaineer]

Biden looks like he's on Thorazine.

It was really, really late in the day for him.