Around 20 people were freed in the largest exchange since the end of the Cold War.
The prisoner exchange between Russia and the West that took place on Thursday will go down as the largest since the end of the Cold War. Twenty-six people were freed, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, Alsou Kumarshevaanother journalist from Radio Free Europe, as well as former US Marine Paul Whelan who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2018.
The Turkish secret service partly mediated the affair. The exchange took place at Ankara airport on Thursday.
Olaf Scholz: “It was the right decision”
In Germany, the Chancellor Olaf Sholz was at Cologne airport to welcome German citizens as well as released Russian opponents, including close associates ofAlexei NavalnyLilia Tchanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva.
He said he had “very emotional” conversations with them. “I believe it was the right decision. And if you had any doubts, you will lose them after talking to those who are now free,” he said shortly after the meeting.
Return to Russia for 8 people
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin personally welcomed the eight exchanged Russian nationals, including: Vadim Krasikov.
The former high-ranking FSB colonel was serving a life sentence in a Berlin prison for espionage and murder.
Other Russians released include a hacker, Alexander Vinnik, and a spy couple, Artem Viktorovich Doultsev and Anna Valerevna Doultseva, who had been based in Slovenia since 2017, accompanied by their two children born there.
In the United States, the State Department welcomed the exchange, calling it an important diplomatic success that should greatly benefit the president. Joe Biden and its Vice President Kamala Harris.
