- August 1, 2024
- 7:58 pm
- World News
A prisoner swap between Russia and the West has taken place in Turkey, freeing at least 10 Russian political prisoners, two Americans accused of spying and a German citizen sentenced to death in Belarus.
Turkish television channel NTV broadcast live from Ankara airport, where the large-scale exchange took place.
The prisoner exchange was overseen by the Turkish intelligence agency, which provided security, planned logistics, and coordinated the exchange of information between the parties. A total of seven countries participated in the operation. Seven planes landed at Ankara airport: two from the United States and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia.
Upon arrival, under the supervision of Turkish intelligence officers, all participants in the exchange were taken off the planes and transferred to safe zones. There, their health was checked and they were identified, after which the transfer took place.
According to Turkish media, a total of 26 people were exchanged, of which Russia received ten (including two children, probably the children of intelligence officers Artem and Anna Dultsov), and Western countries received sixteen.
The official list of released persons has not yet been announced, but the world media are already publishing the names of those who were released today.
Russia frees 15 people: Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Liliya Chanysheva, Ilya Yashin, Ksenia Fadeeva, Andrei Pivovarov, Vadim Ostanin, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmashova, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, Demuri Shobel, German Moyzhes.
Belarus frees Rico Krieger.
USA Vladislav Klyushin, Roman Seleznev, and Vadim Konoshchenko are released.
Poland – Pavel Rubtsov.
Norway – Mikhail Mikushin.
Slovenia – Artem and Anna Dultsev.
Germany – Vadim Krasikov.
What is known about those liberated by Russia
Among those released from Russian prisons are three US citizens: journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, both sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges of espionage, and Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmashova, sentenced to 6.6 years in prison for βfakesβ about the Russian army.
Also at large were:
- Politician and publicist Vladimir Kara-Murza, sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason, has Russian and British citizenship.
- Politician Ilya Yashin, sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for βfakesβ about the Russian Armed Forces.
- Former Tomsk City Duma deputy and former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters Ksenia Fadeeva, sentenced to nine years in prison for organizing an extremist community.
- Former co-chairman of Memorial Oleg Orlov, sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for βfakesβ about the Russian Armed Forces.
- Former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Ufa, Liliya Chanysheva, sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for calls to extremism and organizing an extremist community.
- Artist Alexandra Skochilenko, sentenced to 7 years in prison for βfakesβ about the Russian Armed Forces.
Among those released were also German citizens: Patrick Schaubelle, Kevin Lik, Hermann Moijes and Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death in Belarus and pardoned by Alexander Lukashenko.
Who Putin is bringing back
As a result of the exchange, Russia will receive the contract killer Vadim Krasikov, who worked for the FSB and was convicted of the murder in Berlin of the former Chechen and Georgian commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. Also returning to Russia will be individuals believed to be involved in the Russian military intelligence GRU – the spouses Artem and Anna Dultsev (along with their two children), Pavel Rubtsov and Mikhail Mikushin.
In addition, Russia will receive hacker Roman Seleznev, as well as the organizers of illegal business schemes Vladislav Klyushin and Vadim Konoshchenko, who helped the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.
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