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.. (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 fo..