Three times, Island artist Elizabeth Whelan has had the “dubious honor” of visiting the Oval Office in Washington.

The first two were visits she wished she did not have to make, done to plead the case of her brother, Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine unlawfully detained in Russia.

But her third visit was joyous. Last week, Ms. Whelan stood alongside President Joe Biden as he announced that after five years Mr. Whelan was finally coming home, part of a sweeping exchange of prisoners between Russia, the United States, and each country’s allies.

“What a wonderful opportunity it was... for [President Biden] to be able to share good news,” Ms. Whelan told the Gazette Monday.

President Biden and Vice President Harris greet Paul Whelan, as Elizabeth Whelan looks on.

President Biden and Vice President Harris greet Paul Whelan, as Elizabeth Whelan looks on.

For the past five years, Ms. Whelan, who lives on Chappaquiddick, has been one of her brother’s most vocal advocates.

“It meant the world to me, to see Paul come down those steps and to know that he was finally free from this horrific experience in Russia,” she said.

Mr. Whelan was arrested in Russia in 2018 while attending a wedding, his brother, David Whelan, has said. In 2020, a Russian court sentenced him to 16 years in prison for espionage, a conviction rejected by the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic communities.

Mr. Whelan was one of three Americans released last week, alongside Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

Last Tuesday, Ms. Whelan received word from President Biden’s office that she should travel to Washington as soon as possible. She arrived on Wednesday alongside the families of other detained Americans.

“We had officials saying things are potentially going to happen, they are looking good, that kind of thing,” she said. “But nobody wanted to commit to the outcome until all of the people that we were trying to get out of Russia were out of Russia.”

When Mr. Whelan and other prisoners cleared Russian airspace, the Biden administration confirmed with Ms. Whelan that her brother was on the plane.

“Ever since the Biden administration took over and they established a Russia policy, we have felt that their work has been ongoing,” Ms. Whelan told the Gazette. “The people who had taken this on for Paul, especially in the last couple of years, were some very smart, very serious people who were committed to seeing him come home.”

Mr. Whelan is currently at a military base in San Antonio, Tex., receiving post-isolation support, Ms. Whelan said.

David Whelan released four pages’ of gratitude and acknowledgments to the politicians, advocates, community members and friends who have worked to bring Mr. Whelan home.

“We have no authority... to do anything or to make anything happen. You’re relying basically on the kindness of strangers,” Ms. Whelan said.

And that kindness came in spades, she said, finally bringing her brother home.

After years of traveling back and forth to Washington, Ms. Whelan is now settling back to a quieter life on the Vineyard.

“I am back at my easel, thank goodness,” she said. “It’s been very difficult to try to compartmentalize over the last five and a half years and keep my keep my own business and painting going. But it’s necessary. You can’t drop your own life.”

She continued: “It is just really nice to know that that part of my life has come to an end and that Paul is finally home.”