IRIA News

Russia and the Western nations swapped 24 prisoners on August 1, 2024, marking the largest and most elaborate exchange since the Cold War era. The event, mediated by Turkey, is seen as significant for both Russia and Western countries, though it holds less strategic importance for Kyiv.

The swap involved 24 prisoners and seven different countries. Six countries released at least one prisoner and the seventh, Turkey, hosted the location for the swap in Ankara.

The prisoners were gathered at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey, before being flown to their respective home countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally welcomed eight Russian nationals upon their arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. These individuals had been detained in Europe and the United States on various charges, ranging from cyber-fraud to espionage and murder.

“I want to congratulate everyone on their return to their homeland,” Putin stated. “I want to thank you for your loyalty to the oath, your duty, and your homeland, which has never forgotten you for a minute.”

Among those returning to Russia were alleged spies Anna and Artem Dultsev, a couple posing as Argentinian arts dealers arrested in Slovenia, and cybercrime kingpin Roman Seleznev. Businessman Vladislav Klyushin, convicted of insider trading in the United States, also returned. However, the most notable returnee was Vadim Krasikov, responsible for the 2019 assassination of Chechen rebel leader Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet them the Americans freed from prisons. “Deals like this one come with tough calls,” Biden said. He added, “There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”

Tonight is about reuniting families.

Welcome home, Paul, Evan, and Alsu. You’re right where you belong. pic.twitter.com/PIp7ghOs7z

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 2, 2024

In return, 16 prisoners were released from Russian jails. The group included prominent individuals such as Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, sentenced to 16 years for espionage; artist Sasha Skochilenko, imprisoned for antiwar activism; and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, also accused of spying. Among them was Vladimir Kara-Murza, a well-known opposition figure and dual Russian-British citizen sentenced to 25 years for treason. Kara-Murza, who survived two alleged poisoning attempts, suffered significant health deterioration during his imprisonment.

The German government played a key role in the prisoner swap between Russia and the West as the main figure in the swap, Vadim Krasikov, a Russian was convicted in Germany in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison for killing a former Chechen militant in Berlin in 2019.

Our trustful cooperation has made possible the release of 16 innocent detainees. @POTUS Biden and I agreed on this in a phone call.

We wish all those released today good health and fast recovery in the company of friends and family. pic.twitter.com/XHNu6Zsuwg

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) August 1, 2024

“It was not easy for anyone to make this decision to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who greeted some of the released prisoners upon their arrival in Germany. Scholz insisted the swap was “the right decision, and if you had any doubts, you will lose them after talking to those who are now free.”

Bittersweet reactions

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president, expressed mixed sentiments on prisoner swap, highlighting a pragmatic approach: “Of course, we would like the traitors of Russia to rot in prison or die in jail, as has often happened, But it is more useful to get out our own, who worked for the country, for the Fatherland, for all of us.”

Meanwhile, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the swap, questioning the balance of the exchange on his platform Truth Social: “How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash?… Our ‘negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us!”

Reactions among Russian opposition members were bittersweet. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, expressed relief and sorrow: “It’s a joy to see them all out of captivity… No one should be held hostage by Putin, subjected to torture, or left to die in his prisons.” Navalny died in February while serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic penal colony.

Opposition voices echoed this sentiment. Alexey Krapukhin of the liberal party Yabloko noted, “It is incredibly sad that Navalny did not live to see this exchange… People will continue to be persecuted for their statements; the repression machine will not stop.”

Dan Storyev, editor at Russian human rights monitor OVD-Info, reflected on the broader implications: “… the exchanged 16 are but a tiny fraction of Russia’s political prisoner population. My organization, OVD-Info, counts at least 1,289 dissidents in Russian prisons. At least 10 have died in custody.”

Who was freed?

Journalists, artists, dissidents, hackers, and a hitman were freed in the large-scale prisoner exchange. By October 2023, there was a consensus on an 8-for-8 exchange with Krasikov and Navalny, Russia’s best-known opposition politician, as the main figures. But the unexpected death of Navalny forced the parties to regroup prisoner swap.

Freed by Russia:

• Evan Gershkovich – Wall Street Journal reporter accused of spying for the CIA.
• Paul Whelan – Former US Marine and later head of security at the auto parts firm BorgWarner, was arrested in Moscow in 2018.
• Lilia Chanysheva – Former staffer in late opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s offices.
• Ksenia Fadeyeva – Former associate of Navalny.
• Vladimir Kara-Murza – a staunch critic of the Kremlin.
• Alsu Kurmasheva – Russian-American journalist.
• Kevin Lik – a Russian-German citizen was the youngest person ever convicted of treason in Russia
• Andrei Pivovarov – Russian opposition activist, who headed the pro-democracy Open Russia foundation.
• Herman Moyzhes – Russian-German dual national, who was facing treason charges.
• Oleg Orlov – human rights defender.
• Vadim Ostanin – Former head of another of Navalny’s regional branches.
• Patrick Schoebel – German citizen arrested at Saint Petersburg airport.
• Alexandra Skochilenko – Russian artist sentenced to seven years for replacing price tags with anti-war messages.
• Dieter Voronin – A Russian-German citizen was tried on secret evidence and was convicted of high treason and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
• Ilya Yashin – Kremling critic, jailed on charges of spreading “false information” about the Russian army.

Freed by the United States, Germany, Slovenia, Poland and Norway:

• Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva – Spouses Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva were arrested in Slovenia in 2022.
• Vadim Krasikov – A key figure in the swap, Krasikov.
• Vladislav Klyushin – The Boston court found the Russian businessman Vladislav Klyushin guilty of insider trading and sentenced him to nine years in prison.
• Vadim Konoshchenok – Extradited to the U.S. after he was arrested in Estonia on charges of illegally exporting high-tech equipment from the United States to Russia via the EU.
• Mikhail Mikushin –  Mikushin was accused of pretending to be a Brazilian researcher at the University of Tromsø in the Arctic Circle.
• Pavel Rubtsov – A Russian spy, living in Poland, posing as a Spanish journalist
• Roman Seleznev – A Russian hacker, sentenced in the United States to 27 years in prison for computer fraud and identity theft.

Freed by Belarus:

• Rico Krieger – Krieger, a former medic with the German Red Cross, was sentenced to death in Belarus after being charged with terrorism.

Prisoner swap context

The prisoner swap is set against a complex backdrop of geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has led to significant international condemnation and a slew of sanctions against Moscow. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread destruction, prompting a humanitarian crisis and a renewed Cold War-like atmosphere between Russia and Western nations.

The invasion has also intensified Russia’s internal repression, with an increase in arrests and imprisonment of opposition figures, journalists, and activists. The Russian government has cracked down on dissent, aiming to silence criticism of its policies and military actions. This context makes the prisoner swap particularly poignant, as it underscores the human cost of political repression and international conflict.

The exchange also reflects the ongoing efforts of diplomatic channels to address humanitarian issues amidst broader geopolitical standoffs. While it does not signal a thaw in relations or a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, it highlights the importance of maintaining communication even during periods of intense hostility.

The prisoner swap, though significant, has not eased the broader tensions. Reports indicate ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, with both sides experiencing heavy casualties. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and in need of assistance.

International diplomatic efforts continue, with periodic negotiations aimed at ceasefires or peace agreements. However, trust between Russia and Western nations is at an all-time low, complicating any potential resolutions.

The release of high-profile prisoners like Gershkovich and Kara-Murza may provide some relief to their families and supporters, but it also serves as a reminder of the many others still imprisoned under harsh conditions. Human rights organizations continue to advocate for the release of political prisoners and the end of repressive measures in Russia.

As global attention remains focused on Ukraine, the implications of this prisoner swap will be closely watched. It underscores the delicate balance of power and the human dimension of international conflicts, reminding the world of the enduring need for dialogue and diplomacy amidst ongoing strife.