A “big exchange” of prisoners took place between Russia and the West (video)
1 August 2024 19:12
The largest prisoner exchange operation between Russia and Western countries in recent times took place in Turkey. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to Bloomberg.
The exchange involved Russia, Belarus, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Norway. Russia returned mostly political prisoners to the West, while Western countries handed over to Russia those convicted of crimes against human life and health, as well as spies.
In particular, the exchange lists included Vadim Krasikov, a hired killer who was involved in a number of contract killings, including businessman Alexander Kozlov in Karelia in 2007, businessman Albert Nazranov, and Chechen refugee Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Germany.
According to Turkish intelligence, the operation resulted in the release of 26 prisoners held in prisons in seven different countries – the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus. 10 people were transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the United States.
Among those exchanged are:
- wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Hershkowitz;
- uS Marine Paul Whelan;
- russian FSB officer Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for the murder of a Chechen commander;
- german Red Cross worker Rico Krieger;
- navalny’s associate Ilya Yashin.
Initially, it was reported that Russia released WSJ journalist Evan Hershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan as part of a prisoner exchange. At one time, both were convicted in Russia in espionage cases. The two men were sentenced to 16 years in prison there.
The media also reported that Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years for high treason, was released during the exchange.
In addition, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was imprisoned in Russia, returned home.
“We welcome the news of Alsu’s release and are grateful to the US government and all those who worked tirelessly to end her unjust treatment by Russia. Alsou was targeted because she was an American journalist who was simply trying to take care of a family member in Russia. She had done nothing wrong and certainly did not deserve to be treated unfairly and forcibly separated from her family and colleagues,” said Radio Free Europe President Stephen Capus.
The exchange took place in Ankara, Turkey. Footage from the capital was published by NTV. Two planes arrived from the United States, one from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia.
Reactions to the “big exchange” in Ukraine
Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, told Suspilne that the current exchange is a good signal.
“The world is fighting for its own and the US is fighting for its citizens. Germany does the same. All countries do, and this is normal. That’s why this is a good signal. It is a reason for Ukraine to remind that there are thousands of Ukrainian military and civilians in Russian captivity and their rights should not be kept silent. The fight for them must continue,” Yusov said.
At the same time, Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again won the “big exchange”. According to Tsaplienko, in the future, this exchange may become a new strategy for Russia: to send its killers, like Krasikov, to kill people in the West. And in case they are arrested, to catch Western journalists, Red Cross volunteers and their opponents, realising that they are just a medium of exchange for trade with the West.
