US and Russia complete biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history

The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free, officials said.

The trade followed years of secretive back-channel negotiations despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The sprawling deal, the latest in a series of prisoner swaps negotiated between Russia and the U.S. in the last two years but the first to require significant concessions from other countries, was heralded by President Joe Biden as a diplomatic achievement in the final months of his administration. But the release of Americans has come at a price: Russia has secured the freedom of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West by trading them for journalists, dissidents and other Westerners convicted and sentenced in a highly politicized legal system on charges the U.S. considers bogus.

Under the deal, Russia released Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was jailed in 2023 and convicted in July of espionage charges that he and the U.S. vehemently denied and called baseless; Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since 2018 also on espionage charges he and Washington have denied; and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military, accusations her family and employer have rejected.

The dissidents released included Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer serving 25 years on charges of treason widely seen as politically motivated, 11 political prisoners being held in Russia, including associates of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and a German national arrested in Belarus.

The Russian side got Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services. #News #Politics #Crime

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[Scott-BestCatDad]

Thank you Biden for bringing the wrongfully convicted home when Trump wouldn’t even consider it! 🇺🇸

[jacksondurand]

Who did Russia get from us this time... in the last exchange for Brittney Griner, Russia got an International Arms Dealer.

[joeylamack]

All of a sudden Joe can do things lol. #democratsareliers

[SarinaSazi]

President Biden....you are awesome ❤❤❤❤

[Teny-hufd]

I don't hear nobody saying he too old now I always respected Joe Biden he has a resume out this world turn into politics for so long the first time he was sworn in was the beside his son in the hospital when his wife and his daughter was killed in a car accident Democrats when I heard that negativity after that debate to me he had wanted because Joe Biden know his politics let the cat have your tongue that is my opinion go enjoy your retirement Mr Joe Biden Mr President Joe Biden and this Jill Scott first lady of course it's my opinion but it is my opinion❤, USA you better tell somebody

[BlindSquirrel]

Stay out of Russia, for obvious reasons.

[etouiqi]

Wow !! Amazing when Two people work together for the right purpose ..Yesss President Joe Biden USA 🇺🇸

[bonnybastian]

Same American government blaming Russia of wrong doing abducted Indian citizen from a third country and keeping in is Jail allegedly planning to hire someone to kill someone.What an irony 😂😂😂

[DoShortsyoutube]

After years of negotiations you managed to free the killer, congratulations

[saugerriver]

i wonder why ole grandpa had not done it earlier ! ah hell he probably just forgot about them !

[georgewashington]

Its not safe to travel to russia.. Except for tucker Carlson.. when he promotes Russia as we all know he was just fine traveling to russia. For the rest of the people .. dont travel to Russia. Sad but thats the way things are.

[TheEqualizer-...]

MY MESSAGE TO BIDEN: As a family of brothers, sons, and nephews who have served in the military, it is absolutely disgusting that you would negotiate to release Britney Griner (who actually broke Russian Law) before a Marine and other Americans who did nothing wrong. I'm grateful for the release, but it's shame on you and your administration, who only pursue the approval of the elite and "famous."