What the historic prisoner swap might mean for the future

On Thursday 16 political prisoners, including U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, were released in a historic exchange with Russia that also freed 8 Russians held in other countries (including an assassin working for the Russian state who was convicted and jailed in Germany). Correspondent Seth Doane talks with former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan, who says Vladimir Putin, and other authoritarians, may be emboldened to wrongfully detain Americans abroad if they can benefit from prisoner swaps in the future.

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[michaeldavidson]

A guy brings medical weed to Russia? That's really dumb.

[darkmatter]

They acknowledged that the American committed a crime for carrying marijuana but then claims he was "wrongfully" detained. Wtf is that logic! 😅

[susannpatton]

Do not go to Russia
Do not go there
Do not go there
Do not go there

[morrisparrish]

WTF are we gonna stop the FUBARed way of “wanting a quarter & paying a dollar for it” type of negotiations?

[SithLordDavid]

Hold on, wrongfully detained for carrying medical marijuana! Marijuana is illegal in most countries.

[marenm]

Some people are asking for it, it’s not hard check the rules people don’t take any crap with you.

[conservativeptriot]

Yes marijuana is illegal in Russia but 14 years come on now i can see 2

[marinastuber]

Marihuana is not allowed in Russia! He broke the law. In some countries for this he could be even executed. Respect laws of other countries!

[MGuesshart]

I am super glad they're home. I am concerned that this will become more prevalent though. I thought this is why we didn't negotiate with terrorists ?

[dreambig]

It means more kidnapping will happen. Its working!

[WhiteLeper]

This effort of 7 nations shows peaceful resolutions are really possible if they try.

[qalinlecilmi]

3 cosho dabadeed diyaar bari caawa waan guurayaa si aan caruurta ugu soo qaato cunto ilasocdo ogaada

[upifhbc]

Heres a thought you go to Russia at your own risk if you do something wrong or are just arrested it's on you. You were watned.

[CM-vebz]

What does the prisoner swap mean?
It means the world is learning American citizens are a commodity to be traded.

[rossh]

Just like that time they traded a trash basketball player for the lord of war?

[OdinsRavenwood]

We should have traded Trump the Dump for prisoners 😂😂😂

[hummersd]

As much as it's understandable journalists want to go to Russia to make sure stories are reported on (and also recognizing they have been there for years so maybe it was previously safer), going forward if it's an unsafe country, don't go. Yes, I understand you can't live your life in fear, but if this does become a thing to entrap people so they become part of an exchange "business" as the segment mentioned, if it's a risky country, or on the brink of becoming a risky country, it's not worth it. The medical mj is similar to bullets in the Bahamas -- you need to be really careful about other country's laws; do mistakes happen? Sure. But having bullets in the first place means you were traveling with guns at some point w/in the US, and that's on you.

[robertrodriguez]

Your entering the wrong plane Mr. President

[JahmanPinda]

Just put Trump back in office! Only he can have Putin wrapped around

[toddaulner]

How long till we find out whom they traded for?