Ankara: The largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War has taken place, resulting in the release of 24 prisoners.
The U.S. has confirmed that the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War has occurred, with a total of 24 individuals being released.
The White House stated that Russia has released 16 prisoners who are now returning to Europe and the U.S. This group includes Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
In exchange, the U.S., Norway, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia have released 8 Russian prisoners from their jails, including individuals accused of intelligence activities.
Two of these prisoners’ children have also returned to Russia.
This exchange took place yesterday on the runway of Ankara Airport, the capital of Turkey.
U.S. President Joe Biden has confirmed that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Russian-born American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and Russian-born British activist Vladimir Kara-Murza are also returning to the U.S.
The implementation of this exchange took over 18 months due to Moscow’s demand for the return of Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence for murder in Berlin. He has also been released as part of the Russian demand.