Kurmasheva's husband on release from Russia: 'I didn't believe it until I actually saw it'

Alsu Kurmasheva is one of the Americans detained in Russia to come home in a prisoner exchange. To discuss the emotional family reunions, Nick Schifrin spoke with Kurmasheva’s husband, Pavel Butorin, and their older daughter, Bibi.

Read the Full Transcript

Nick Schifrin: And to talk about the Americans’ return home and these emotional family reunions, I’m joined by Alsu Kurmasheva’s husband, Pavel Butorin, and their older daughter, Bibi.

Thank you so much. Welcome back to the “News Hour.”

We had you on in this studio just about 10 days ago, after Alsu had been convicted and sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for — quote — “spreading falsehoods” about the Russian army. And you told Amna Nawaz that day this:

Pavel Butorin, Husband of Alsu Kurmasheva: No matter what we say, it doesn’t adequately describe the pain that we go through every day.

We wake up thinking of Alsu. We go about our day thinking about what other humiliations she’s subjected to by the Russian government. We see that empty chair at our dinner table. We go to bed thinking of her, and we dream of our reunion.

Nick Schifrin: Ten days later, how is it to have that dream fulfilled?

Pavel Butorin: Well, this is clearly a much happier occasion for us to be on PBS.

It was an unbelievable day, surreal, really. We were so happy to embrace Alsu again and to welcome her back home.

Bibi Butorin, Daughter of Alsu Kurmasheva: Yes, my sister and I are so over the moon and happy to have her back. It’s unbelievable how much we missed her.

Nick Schifrin: Pavel, how is your wife doing?

Pavel Butorin: Well, obviously this unjust imprisonment has taken an emotional and physical toll on her well-being. And she is now receiving the medical treatment that she wasn’t receiving for more than nine months.

I think she’s doing OK, at least emotionally. She was obviously excited to see us. So she is in good spirits. But now this new chapter begins of her integrating in the free world after more than nine months of wrongful entertainment in Russia.

Nick Schifrin: And may I ask, how are you doing?

Pavel Butorin: Look, I’m still processing what happened yesterday. It was just unreal. Being in the Oval Office, we weren’t quite prepared for that phone call. I think it came as a surprise. And when President Biden took us to his desk and we were able to hear Alsu’s voice, I was overcome with emotion, honestly.

And then, on the tarmac — I didn’t believe it until I actually saw it. The situation was so fragile. There were so many unconfirmed single-sourced reports. And when we were on the tarmac, I think I then finally realized she’s about to come out and we will be able to once again hug Alsu.

Nick Schifrin: Bibi, how are you feeling?

Bibi Butorin: Oh, I’m just so overwhelmed. It’s so amazing hearing from everyone, congratulating us on our mom’s return.

And we’re just so very happy. And we really didn’t expect this day to come so soon. And it’s by far been the craziest 48 hours of my life, and a good crazy, so really happy.

Nick Schifrin: Pavel, you described how surprised you were by the phone call in the Oval Office. How surprised have you been in general over the last few days or week?

Your wife was moved at some point. The three Americans were forced to sign clemency papers. We were tracking that from here. But how much did you know about what was going on leading to the release?

Pavel Butorin: Well, over the past several months, we have learned to keep our expectations and our emotions, honestly, in check.

And we had some knowledge, particularly about Alsu, and only about Alsu, but something that we couldn’t discuss. I was a little bit disheartened by various leaks and unconfirmed reports. There was so much uncertainty about the situation.

We received a phone call inviting us to the White House two days before this whole situation. We had to keep it under wraps. And it wasn’t — me being a journalist, it was interesting to be on the other side of the story, having some information, but not being able to share or willing to share with journalists.

But it worked — it all worked out. And I’m happy. It just so happened that the visit almost coincided with our tickets to a Taylor Swift show. And so we were a little bit conflicted. We were not quite sure what we’re going to do. But we ended up missing that show, but I hope we will make it one day.

Nick Schifrin: I have a feeling that if we publicize this interview and you said that you missed a Taylor Swift show in order to meet Alsu as she was released, I have a feeling that someone might reach out to you with a little bit of help for tickets.

Bibi Butorin: We hope so.

Pavel Butorin: I do hope so, yes. I think we have a new campaign under way right now.

(Laughter)

Nick Schifrin: Pavel, let me ask one other question too.

You know how important your wife’s work was in Russia. Do you think that she would ever be willing to go back?

Pavel Butorin: We will just have to wait and see. She is in a fragile state right now. She needs recuperation and readjustment. So we look forward to guiding her and providing our assistance to that process.

Nick Schifrin: You say she’s in a fragile state. What kind of state do you — did you get the sense that she was in when you were talking to her?

Pavel Butorin: I think it’s apparent that she has lost some weight. She needs to get some nutritionist’s advice, I think, get back into her exercise routine.

We’re a family of runners. But we’re there to support her. We know that — and she knows that we’re — her friends and her family are very much ready to support her every step of the way.

Nick Schifrin: Well, she definitely feels that support, and hopefully she feels the world’s support as we all cover her homecoming and your reunion.

So, Pavel and Bibi, thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

Pavel Butorin: Thank you for having us.

Bibi Butorin: Thank you for having us.