10 months ago
27
(NewsNation) — Sarah Krivanek, an American erstwhile wrongfully detained successful Russia, tells “NewsNation Live” she “got goosebumps” portion watching 16 prisoners beryllium released from Russia successful a captive swap Thursday.
Krivanek was arrested successful December 2021 and spent astir a twelvemonth successful a Russian penal colony. She was released the aforesaid time arsenic wrongfully detained WNBA subordinate Brittney Griner successful December 2022.
Krivanek said she is “overwhelmed with joy” astatine seeing the prisoners, including Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich, beryllium released.
“I started to consciousness nervous, but successful a bully way. I’m truthful excited to perceive what they person to say,” Krivanek said. “Their archetypal words and however they consciousness seeing their families for the archetypal time, I’m excited to perceive their reunion story.”
Gershkovich and retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released this week aft spending 16 months and implicit 5 1/2 years, respectively, down bars successful Russia. According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, this captive swap progressive 26 radical and practice from Russia, the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey.
Krivane, who went to Russia successful 2017 to thatch English, reflected connected her ain clip successful captivity successful Russia and her travel aft coming home.
“I endured carnal unit and intersexual violence, truthful maine getting location astatine first, it was overwhelming,” Krivanek told “NewsNation Live.” “You get to spot your loved ones; you really get to spot their faces, hug them, beryllium adjacent to them, but aft immoderate time, everything unravels.”
During her clip successful the penal colony, Kravenik said she did not deliberation she was going to marque it home.
“I person children and grandchildren. I didn’t deliberation I was ever going to spot them again, and my lone supplication was that I could travel location and clasp my children and grandchildren,” Krivanek said, “And I got to bash that.”
