By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich stood trial on spying charges in a court hearing in Russia in June./ Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Belarus on one side and the U.S, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Poland on the other has been confirmed by Turkish intelligence services. The exchange involved 26 individuals and took place at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara, Turkiye.
The prisoners were transported to Turkiye by a total of seven aircraft: two from the U.S., and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia.
Planes believed to be carrying prisoners coming from Russia upon their arrival at Ankara on Thursday./ AP
In the exchange, 10 prisoners, including two minors, were relocated to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed the exchange of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsou Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza. A total of 16 Russian prisoners were released.
Russia also released several dissidents, including associates of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and a German national arrested in Belarus.
Paul Whelan stands inside a defendant's cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow in 2019. /Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP
Germany's government confirmed the release of Vadim Krasikov, a Russian convicted in 2019 for the murder of a former Chechen militant, acknowledging it was "not an easy decision." The government added: "Our obligation to protect German nationals and our solidarity with the USA were important motivations."
First comments from Russia
The Kremlin expressed a strong stance on those who had been released from Russian jails. State-run TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: "I believe that all our enemies should stay there (abroad), and all those who are not our enemies should return. That's my point of view."
Eight Russians detained and imprisoned in a number of NATO countries have been returned to their homeland, the FSB Public Relations Center reported.
Their return became possible thanks to the systematic work of competent government departments and foreign partners, the department noted.
Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday