CNN
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The highest US hostage affairs official stated Monday that the Biden administration needed to assume some danger with a purpose to convey three Individuals hostages dwelling final week in a historic commerce with the Kremlin.
“You at all times assume a danger in these conditions, and the president has been keen to make these laborious choices,” Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens advised CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” when requested to deal with criticism that Russia could also be extra prone to take hostages if the White Home continues to approve prisoner swaps.
Carstens, who was additionally concerned within the high-profile releases of former Marine Trevor Reed and WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian detention, has served because the US’ high hostage negotiator since 2020. Final week’s prisoner swap involved 24 detainees in whole, together with fellow freed Individuals: Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan.
The diplomat advised Tapper that he as soon as had 54 hostage instances which might be “now down to only over 20.”
“So we’ve made laborious modifications. We’ve traded some dangerous folks to get good folks, harmless folks again,” Carstens stated.
“And you’ll assume that my numbers could be skyrocketing up and but they’re not. They’re getting in the wrong way. So the maths proves that assertion to be unsuitable,” he continued. “Once we make these laborious choices and the president makes the powerful name to ship somebody again in a commerce like this, our numbers are literally taking place.”