Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine and brother to Island artist Elizabeth Whelan, has been released from Russian custody more than five years after an arrest that the U.S. government condemned as spurious.

Mr. Whelan was released as part of a prisoner swap alongside two other American citizens, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the White House announced Thursday morning.

“Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials, and sentenced them to long prison terms, for absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever—none,” President Biden said of the released prisoners in a press conference Thursday. “Soon, they’ll be wheels up on their way to see their families.”

Mr. Whelan was arrested during a trip to Moscow for a close friend’s wedding, his brother David Whelan has said. From her home on Chappaquiddick, Ms. Whelan has been one of her brother’s fiercest advocates for release. Mr. Whelan was serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia.

“I don’t think any of us can really believe that we’re on the sixth year of Paul’s wrongful detention.” Ms. Whelan told the Gazette earlier this year, on her brother’s 54th birthday.

“We’re hoping, obviously, that it won’t go that long, but you know, we were hoping a few years ago that we would get him out as well,” she said.

Ms. Whelan was standing alongside Mr. Biden during his press conference Thursday at the White House. She did not immediately return a request for comment. 

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, the Island’s representative in the House, has been an advocate for Mr. Whelan’s return and was thrilled about his return to the states. 

“It should be a happy day for Elizabeth and her friends on the Vineyard [and] it should be a happy day as Americans,” Mr. Keating told the Gazette Thursday. 

Mr. Keating sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Over the last five years, he has come to know Ms. Whelan personally in the struggle for her brother’s release.

“I couldn't be happier for her and her family. I often said to her, I can't imagine and I hope I never do get taken a prisoner, but if I do, I sure wish I would have you as a sister,” he said.