(NewsNation) — Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich, retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and writer Alsu Kurmasheva are connected their mode location aft the United States and Russia completed the biggest captive swap since the Cold War but probe suggests dozens of Americans are inactive being unjustly held captive abroad.
Based connected a recent report from the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, determination are at slightest 43 U.S. nationals currently being held hostage oregon wrongfully detained successful 16 countries crossed the world. The mean magnitude of captivity crossed those cases is much than 5 years, with six cases enduring implicit 11 years, the study found.
Russia accounts for 25% of each Americans being wrongfully detained abroad, the Foley Foundation determined.
The latest captive swap is invited quality but besides raises questions astir however overseas adversaries could question leverage implicit the U.S. by taking prisoners successful the future.
"Russia’s usage of humans arsenic planetary bargaining chips — Americans arsenic good arsenic citizens from different countries — underscores its menace to planetary information and stability," the instauration said successful a statement Thursday.
Gerskovich and Whelan were being held successful Russia connected espionage charges, which the U.S. has vehemently denied. Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, was convicted for spreading mendacious accusation astir the Russian military, accusations her household and leader rejected.
The Foley Foundation said immoderate Americans being held successful Russia, similar Andre Khachatoorian and Ksenia Karelina, inactive person not been officially designated arsenic wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.
Khachatoorian, a 38-year-old American citizen, has been held successful Russia since Dec. 2021 aft being arrested portion waiting for a connecting formation astatine Sheremetyevo International Airport.
Ksenia Karelina, a Los Angeles-based Russian American aesthetician, is being held successful Russia for treason aft she allegedly donated wealth to Ukraine. The donation amounted to arsenic small arsenic $50 to a New York-based nonprofit, according to CBS News.
Here are immoderate of the names of U.S. nationals who are being wrongfully detained oregon held hostage abroad, according to the Foley Foundation:
- Alina Lopez
- Held successful Cuba since 2017
- Aziza Al-Yousef
- Held successful Saudi Arabia since 2019
- Dr. Walid Fitaihi
- Faces 28 years successful situation successful Saudi Arabia
- George Glezmann
- Held successful Afghanistan since 2022
- Kai Li
- Held successful China since 2016
- Mahmoud Habibi
- Held successful Afghanistan since 2022
- Mark Swidan
- Held successful China since 2012
- Paul Overby
- Last seen successful Afghanistan successful 2014
- Ryan Corbett
- Held successful Afghanistan since 2022
- Shahab Dalili
- Held successful Iran since 2016
- Theary Seng
- Held successful Cambodia since 2022
- Zack Shahin
- Held successful Dubai since 2008