Following their historic prisoner swap with Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva have begun the arduous process of reintegrating into civilian life. The road ahead involves physical, mental, and practical challenges as they adjust to the normalcy of their newfound freedom.
The jubilant return of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva to American soil marked a momentous victory for diplomacy. However, their journey towards normalcy is far from over. Upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews, the freed trio embarked on a stay in San Antonio, a transitionary phase designed to aid their reintegration into civilian life.
The Road to Recovery: Returning Home from Russian Captivity
"The process is underway, so [they’re] just starting to taste freedom," said Wall Street Journal editor Paul Beckett, who actively advocated for Gershkovich's release. "The fortitude and presence of mind he displayed for 16 months in those glass cages has been replicated. He seems to be in a good place."
Gershkovich, who endured over a year in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison, retained an unwavering sense of humor amidst his grim circumstances. "Hello from sunny Moscow!" he wrote to a friend. Despite the isolation and torture inflicted within Lefortovo's walls, he continued writing throughout his captivity.
The Road to Recovery: Returning Home from Russian Captivity
"Lefortovo is a very unique prison," explained Russian journalist Andrei Soldatov. "People are held completely incommunicado... They have just one hour to exercise in a small courtyard, so you cannot see anything outside."
Liz Cathcart, executive director of Hostage US, emphasizes the challenges of returning home after wrongful detention. "It’s such a happy moment, it’s extremely overwhelming... but in the best of ways." The stay in San Antonio provides a buffer between captivity and everyday life, allowing them to transition slowly.
The Road to Recovery: Returning Home from Russian Captivity
Physical health is a primary concern for the freed hostages. Many return malnourished, with muscle wastage and vitamin deficiencies. Cathcart explains, "Your body starts to break down from malnutrition... then you start to see problems with muscle wastage."
Moreover, the mental toll of captivity cannot be understated. "We see a wide variety of impacts from this type of trauma," says Cathcart. "Anything from stress, just normal kind of day-to-day stress and anxiety, all the way through to PTSD... By no means does everyone that we work with end up with, or have, PTSD. It's really a wide spectrum that we see."
The Road to Recovery: Returning Home from Russian Captivity
Practical challenges also await the returnees, such as dealing with unpaid bills and navigating their pre-detention careers. Jason Rezaian of The Washington Post, who was imprisoned in Iran for nearly a year and a half, experienced credit problems and nightmares upon his return.
Cathcart advises that the returning prisoners should receive all necessary support. "Having been cut off from society for months or years, the returning hostages will face difficulty returning to ordinary life."
Fox News Digital's David Rutz contributed to this report.
