2024 Ankara prisoner exchange

The three American nationals released in the exchange are joined by government officials and staff on their return flight to the United States: Evan Gershkovich (bottom-left), Paul Whelan (second from right), and Alsu Kurmasheva (bottom-right)

On 1 August 2024, the United States and Russia conducted the most extensive prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, involving the release of twenty-six people. The exchange was realized at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey.[1]

Following at least six months of secret multilateral negotiations,[2][3] Russia and Belarus released sixteen detainees while the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway collectively released eight detainees and two minors. Among those released were three American citizens: Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine; Gershkovich and Whelan had each received sixteen-year sentences for espionage, becoming a cause célèbre in the U.S.[4][5]

The prisoner exchange, which has been described as one of the most complex in history,[6] took place at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, whose government served as a mediator between the parties.[7][8] Under the terms of the agreement, the eight Russian nationals and two minors were transferred to Russia, while thirteen of the prisoners held by Russia and Belarus were released to Germany and three to the U.S.[9] Both the U.S. and Russia hailed the prisoner swap as a significant diplomatic victory.[10][7]

Background

[edit]
See also: Second Cold War and Russia–United States relations
Protest outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin demanding the release of Russia's political prisoners, February 2024

During the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union routinely exchanged prisoners, who were typically spies, military officers, or other government agents.[11][12] The end of the Cold War in 1991 resulted in a marked decline in espionage activities—and, accordingly, prisoner exchanges—between the U.S. and Soviet Union's successor, the Russian Federation; the most recent mass prisoner swap between the two countries occurred in 2010, when ten Russian sleeper agents detained in the U.S. as part of the so-called "Illegals Program" were exchanged for four prisoners held in Russia.

In response to rising geopolitical tensions with the West over the past decade, Russia has heightened its repression of both domestic dissent and perceived foreign influence, leading to the arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, many of whom are deemed by the U.S. government to have been "wrongfully detained".[11] In 2012, Russia enacted a foreign agent law that has been used to persecute those deemed under foreign influence; the scope of the law was expanded in 2024.[13] Following the start of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, and especially since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian government has intensified its crackdowns on domestic opposition and "foreign influence". On 4 March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill introducing prison sentences of up to 15 years for spreading "fake news" about Russia's military operation in Ukraine;[14] thousands of Russians have been prosecuted under this law for criticizing the war in Ukraine,[15] including opposition politician Ilya Yashin and artist Aleksandra Skochilenko.[16]

Trevor Reed, a U.S. Marine veteran arrested in Russia in 2019 allegedly for attacking a police officer, was released in April 2022 for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot and aviation transport expert imprisoned in the U.S. for drug smuggling. Less than a year after Reed's release, American basketball player Brittney Griner, who had been arrested in February 2022 for drug smuggling, was exchanged the following December for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Several analysts and U.S. officials expressed concern that Russia used Reed and Griner as leverage in response to the international sanctions imposed upon it after the invasion of Ukraine.[17][18] Several other Americans held by Russia, including former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and schoolteacher Marc Fogel, had been contemplated as part of the exchange deal for Griner; the negotiations leading to her release reportedly paved the way for the most recent exchange of twenty-six individuals between both countries and their respective allies.[19]

The involvement of Belarus in the deal reflects Putin's foreign policy, seeing post-Soviet states as Russia's sphere of influence and opposing NATO enlargement there.[20][21] According to Western analysts,[22][23] Belarus acts on the Kremlin's demand under the Russian-dominated supranational "Union State".

Prisoner exchange

[edit]

Negotiations and preparation

[edit]
U.S. President Joe Biden and family members of the released Americans speaking with the prisoners by phone in the Oval Office, following the release of the Americans kept prisoner

During a February 2024 trip by German chancellor Olaf Scholz to Washington, D.C., the German and American governments began working on how to negotiate an agreement that would include the freeing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Scholz and Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob separately during the Munich Security Conference in February 2024 to privately discuss the negotiations.[24] After Navalny's death on the first day of the conference—explained by his allies as a killing to prevent the exchange—the proposal turned to focus on other prisoners.[25][26]

Prior to June 2024, Sergey Beseda headed the Russian side of the negotiations that later led to the 2024 Ankara prisoner exchange; however, in June 2024, Vladimir Putin replaced Beseda with Aleksey Komkov.[27][a] The Vice President of Germany's BND Philipp Wolff[b] also joined the negotiations at this time.[27]

On 21 July, American president Joe Biden called Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob to secure the necessary pardons for two Russian spies held in the country that were to be exchanged as part of the swap.[26]

In the days leading up to the exchange, three Russians were transferred from facilities operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to the United States Marshals Service.[34]

Turkey served as a key mediator of the exchange and was named by President Biden as one of the nations that had "stepped up" to ensure that the prisoners were released;[35][10] the Turkish government, which maintains relatively warm relations with both parties, oversaw the physical exchange of prisoners at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.[8]

Individuals released

[edit]

Twenty-six individuals, including two minors believed to be the children of the two Russian spies in Slovenia, were released.[36][37][4] Marc Fogel and Ksenia Karelina were not included as part of the exchange.[38] Individuals returning to Russia are from various countries: the United States, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, and Norway.[39]

Released by Russia and Belarus

[edit]

The following people were released by Russia and Belarus:[37][40][41]

Prisoners previously held by Russia and Belarus
Name Nationality Country detained in Held since Occupation Charges Prison sentence
Lilia Chanysheva  Russia  Russia 2021 Regional coordinator of Navalny Headquarters in Ufa Extremism 9.5 years
Ksenia Fadeeva  Russia  Russia 2023 Regional coordinator of Navalny Headquarters in Tomsk Extremism 9 years
Vadim Ostanin  Russia  Russia 2021 Regional coordinator of Navalny Headquarters in Barnaul Extremism 9 years
Evan Gershkovich  United States  Russia 2023 Reporter for The Wall Street Journal Espionage 16 years
Vladimir Kara-Murza  Russia
 United Kingdom 		 Russia 2022 Opposition politician Treason 25 years
Rico Krieger  Germany  Belarus 2024 Red Cross employee Terrorism Death
Alsu Kurmasheva  Russia
 United States 		 Russia 2023 Journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Spreading false information about the Russian military 6.5 years
Kevin Lik  Russia
 Germany 		 Russia 2023 High school student Treason 4 years
Herman Moyzhes  Russia
 Germany 		 Russia 2024 Immigration lawyer Treason Not brought to trial
Oleg Orlov  Russia  Russia 2024 Human rights activist Discrediting the Russian military 2.5 years
Andrei Pivovarov  Russia  Russia 2021 Head of Open Russia political organization Carrying out activities of an undesirable organization 4 years
Patrick Schöbel  Germany  Russia 2024 Technician, was a tourist in Russia Drug smuggling (6 gummy bears coated with cannabis oil) Not brought to trial
Aleksandra Skochilenko  Russia  Russia 2022 Artist and author Spreading false information about the Russian military 7 years
Demuri Voronin  Russia
 Germany 		 Russia 2021 Political scientist Treason 13 years and 3 months
Paul Whelan  United States
 Canada
 Ireland
 United Kingdom[42] 		 Russia 2018 Security executive and former U.S. Marine Espionage 16 years
Ilya Yashin  Russia  Russia 2022 Opposition politician Spreading false information about the Russian military 8.5 years

Russian citizens released by Western countries

[edit]

The following people were released by Western countries:[37][40][41]

Prisoners previously held by the West
Name Nationality Country detained in Held since Occupation Charges Prison sentence
Artem Dultsev  Russia  Slovenia 2022 Undercover spies, SVR Espionage 19 months
Anna Dultseva
Pablo González Yagüe
(a.k.a. Pavel Rubtsov) 		 Russia
 Spain 		 Poland 2022 Journalist, suspected GRU agent Espionage Not sentenced
Vladislav Klyushin  Russia  United States 2023 Businessman Fraud 9 years
Vadim Konoshchenock  Russia  Estonia
 United States 		2022 Suspected FSB officer Conspiracy to evade sanctions Not sentenced
Vadim Krasikov  Russia  Germany 2021 FSB officer Murder (of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili) Life in prison
José Assis Giammaria
(a.k.a. Mikhail Mikushin) 		 Russia
 Brazil[43] 		 Norway 2022 Researcher, suspected GRU agent Espionage Not brought to trial
Roman Seleznev  Russia  Maldives
 United States 		2014 Hacker 38 charges related to hacking[c] 27 years

Responses

[edit]

United States

[edit]
U.S. president Joe Biden delivered remarks following the exchange

In the United States, Republican representative Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, praised the exchange and claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin had a "strategy of detaining individuals for negotiations".[44]

Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump called the exchange "a win for Putin" and said that it "sets a very bad precedent" for US. He also questioned if money was involved in the deal.[45][46] His running mate, JD Vance, however, called the exchange "great news", and said that Trump deserved credit for it, claiming Putin was motivated to "clean house" by fear of a future Trump presidency.[47]

News of the exchange was broken by Bloomberg prior to the plane's landing in Turkey; this was criticized by other outlets because information provided by the White House to journalists was embargoed until the individuals were successfully released.[48]

After finishing a 2024 Summer Olympics match with Team U.S.A. winning 87–73 over Belgium, Olympiad basketball player and Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, who had previously been in discussions with Paul Whelan for a joint release together before the Viktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchange came about, expressed great joy over hearing about the prisoner exchange, saying that she's "head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that's a win."[49] She would also add that "although today is one of celebration, our hearts go out to the many Americans still being held hostage overseas, and their families. As we extend support to those who have returned and celebrate the collective hands that helped to make American families whole – we must continue to do everything we can to shine a light on the remaining Americans detained."[50]

The family and supporters of Marc Fogel, a schoolteacher from Western Pennsylvania who has been in prison in Russia for three years for the same crime as Griner——bringing a small amount of medical marijuana into the country–—objected to him being left out of the swap.[51] Fogel was reportedly devastated by it.[52] The US State Department has refused to designate Fogel as "wrongfully detained" as it did Griner before negotiating her release.

Norway

[edit]

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the exchange as a difficult dilemma: "Normally, we want people who are arrested and suspected of crimes in our countries to be investigated and possibly brought to trial according to our principles of the rule of law. So, intervening in that is a very serious matter. But you have to make that assessment in a broader context. And that broader context indicated that it was the right thing to do."[53]

Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide stated that the exchange was part of a larger goal where it is important for Norway to act as a good ally and to contribute where other countries have had great needs and Norway has been able to assist.[54] He also commented on the case of Mikhail Mikushin, a suspected GRU agent imprisoned in Norway: "This [the exchange] is in practice the closest one gets to an official confirmation that he is a Russian intelligence officer and not a Brazilian researcher, as he has originally claimed to be.[55]

Russia

[edit]
Vadim Krasiko in a tracksuit and cap and three other men descend from an airplane labeled ТҮ-204-300. The airplane and the stairs are labeled "Russia" in Russian and with the three colors of the Russian flag. The heads of two soldiers with guns mounted with bayonets partially block the view.
Vadim Krasikov and others are received by a guard of honor at Vnukovo International Airport, Moscow.

The Kremlin press service stated that "the decision to sign [pardoning] decrees was made with the goal of returning Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in foreign countries." It was noted that the Russian side is grateful to the leadership of all countries that assisted in the preparation of the exchange and is also thankful to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for pardoning Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death in Belarus.[56] He was pardoned by Lukashenko shortly before he was released as part of the prisoner exchange.[57][58]

According to Meduza, state and pro-government media were given recommendations from the Kremlin's information bloc on how to cover the exchange. When mentioning political prisoners, specific sentences received by exchange participants were to be referenced. Russian political prisoners were to be referred to as "troublemakers and traitors," "agents of the West," and that "nothing serious happened – we got rid of the unnecessary." The citizens received in the exchange were to be noted as those who "worked for the Motherland"; for instance, in reports about Vadim Krasikov, it was to be indicated that he "eliminated a field commander, an enemy."[59]

Novaya Gazeta notes that Russian pro-government media generally covered the prisoner exchange topic in a restrained manner, mostly in news format: Russians were exchanged for "a group of people who acted in the interests of foreign states and conducted subversive activities."[60] In this format, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on the exchange, stating that it was necessary to "pull out our own" in exchange for traitors.[59]

Germany

[edit]

Freed as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the West, the opposition figures, Andrei Pivovarov, Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, had mixed feelings about the deal.[61] Kara-Murza stated that article 61 of the Constitution of Russia forbids to deport citizens if they do not approve. None of them did so or was even asked to do so. Yashin added that he is Russian, a Russian politician, and sees himself as a patriot, whose place is in Russia.[61]

Yashin said it was hard to accept that he was free "because a murderer was free" — a reference to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian convicted of killing a former Chechen militant in Berlin in 2019 and released as part of the deal.[61]

They were flown to Germany after being released and met by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Bonn Cologne airport.

"It was not easy for anyone to make this decision to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison," Scholz said at the airport.[62] He added he took the decision out of an obligation to protect German nationals and solidarity with the United States.

Kara-Murza defended Scholz's decision, saying the only thing that matters is that human lives were saved by going through with the agreement.[63]

After his return, the Public Prosecutor General started an investigation of Rico Krieger for participating in a bombing plot. Krieger had stated he originally wanted to volunteer with the Ukrainian defense forces Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, but that his online application was answered by the Ukrainian secret service instead. Krieger said he was asked to go to Belarus, take photos of key infrastructure and pick up a backpack in a forest. The next day he was arrested by Belarussian police and later sentenced to death.[64] He was pardoned by Lukashenko shortly before he was released as part of the prisoner exchange.[58][57]

Turkey

[edit]

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan praised the "historic" operation and congratulated the National Intelligence Organization staff who took part in the operation. "Türkiye will continue to be the center of peaceful diplomacy in line with the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," he added.[65]

The press service of the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that "from the very beginning of the negotiation process to the final moment of the exchanges, all security measures, logistical planning, and needs of the operation were managed by the National Intelligence Organization."[66]

Organizations

[edit]

Reporters Without Borders stated that Gershkovich "should have never spent a single day in a Russian prison", and their director of campaigns Rebecca Vincent called his arrest "outrageous". The Spanish branch of RWB, which had campaigned for Pablo González's right to a trial in Poland, asked him for explanations.[67][68] The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom celebrated Gershkovich's expected release.[69] Committee to Protect Journalists chief executive Jodie Ginsberg requested the release of all detained journalists in Russia.[70]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Alexey Komkov (Russian: Алексей Комков) was the head of the FSB Internal Security Directorate from September 2016 after the 8 July 2016 resignation of the former head of the FSB Internal Security Directorate Sergey Borisovich Korolev, which vacated the chair of Korolev in the CSS, because Korolev was promoted to the post of head of the Economic Security Service of the FSB of Russia. Alexey Komkov headed the FSB Internal Security Directorate until 2018 when he was transferred to the FSB Counterintelligence Service. Komkov is a protégé of Sergey Korolev[28][29][30][31]
  2. ^ Philipp Wolff (born 1972, Gräfelfing) was the Vice President for Central Tasks (German: Vizepräsident für zentrale Aufgaben) of Germany's BND since 1 November 2022 when he replaced Michael Baumann after the BND restructured during 2022.[27][32][33]
  3. ^ According to the U.S. Department of Justice, he was convicted on "[ten] counts of wire fraud, eight counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, nine counts of obtaining information from a protected computer, nine counts of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and two counts of aggravated identity theft".[71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history". AP News. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024. The U.S. and Russia on Thursday completed their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history...
  2. ^ "Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history". AP News. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Two years, secret talks, high stakes: The long road to prisoners deal". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Walker, Shaun (1 August 2024). "Russia frees Evan Gershkovich and others in biggest prisoner swap since cold war". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ Hansler, Jennifer; Atwood, Kylie; Kottasová, Ivana (1 August 2024). "US and Russia carrying out massive prisoner swap, including number of Americans, official says". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ Farhi, Arden; Gazis, Olivia; Schick, Camilla (1 August 2024). "U.S., Russia prisoner swap secures release of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and others". CBS News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b "US and Russia tout prisoner swap as a victory. But perceptions of the deal show stark differences". AP News. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b dhojnacki (2 August 2024). "Turkey's linchpin role in the Russia prisoner swap offers a lesson". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ^ Osborn, Andrew; Lebedev, Filipp; Papachristou, Lucy (1 August 2024). "Americans Gershkovich and Whelan included in a big prisoner swap, Turkey says". Reuters. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Yee, Vivian; Timur, Safak (1 August 2024). "Turkey Revels in the Role It Played in Prisoner Swap". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Yilek, Caitlin (1 August 2024). "U.S., Russia prisoner swap is the latest in a long history of exchanges between the world powers". CBS New York. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  12. ^ A look at major Russian prisoner swaps in history - Brittney Griner and more | Reuters
  13. ^ "Russia's State Duma unanimously votes to bar 'foreign agents' from running for office". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Russia Jails Anti-War Journalist 6 Years for 'Fake News'". The Moscow Times. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  15. ^ Weir, Fred (5 December 2022). "In Russia, critiquing the Ukraine war could land you in prison". CSMonitor.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Russian dissidents disappear from prison in sign a prisoner swap with the West may be close". Reuters. 30 July 2024.
  17. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (6 March 2022). "Former Pentagon official: Russia could use WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'high-profile hostage'". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Fears grow Russia could use US basketball star Brittney Griner as 'hostage'". The Guardian. 6 March 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Two years, secret talks, high stakes: The long road to prisoners deal". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  20. ^ "The post-soviet space as the sphere of influence of Russia: 'Compelling to friendship' mission". Geopolitica.info. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  21. ^ Cooley, Alexander (30 June 2017). "Whose Rules, Whose Sphere? Russian Governance and Influence in Post-Soviet States". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  22. ^ Hopkins, Valerie (22 June 2023). "Belarus Is Fast Becoming a 'Vassal State' of Russia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Belarus, exile country for Wagner mercenaries and Russia's satellite". 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  24. ^ Hudson, John (1 August 2024). "Harris urged German, Slovenian leaders to help secure prisoner swap". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  25. ^ Yaffa, Joshua (1 August 2024). "Evan Gershkovich Is Finally Coming Home". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  26. ^ a b Hinshaw, Drew; Parkinson, Joe; Viswanatha, Aruna (1 August 2024). "WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich Is Free". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  27. ^ a b c "Россия обменяла политзаключенных на шпионов. Среди освобожденных: Кара-Мурза, Гершкович, Яшин, Курмашева, Скочиленко, Чанышева и другие" [Russia exchanged political prisoners for spies. Among those released: Kara-Murza, Gershkovich, Yashin, Kurmasheva, Skochilenko, Chanysheva and others]. The Insider (theins.ru) (in Russian). 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  28. ^ Сухотин, Андрей (Sukhotin, Andrey) (24 October 2019). "Начальником управления собственной безопасности ФСБ стал Алексей Вертяшкин. До этого он возглавлял управление «М»" [Alexey Vertyashkin became the head of the FSB's internal security department. Before that, he headed the "M" department]. «Новая газета» (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Стогней, Анастасия (Stogney, Anastasia); Малкова, Ирина (Malkova, Irina) (31 July 2019). "«Коммерческие ребята»: как ФСБ крышует российские банки" ["Commercial Guys": How the FSB Protects Russian Banks]. The Bell (thebell.io) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Романова, Анна (Romanova, Anna); Корбал, Борис (Korbal, Boris) (4 December 2017). "Конец спецназа Сечина: «Дело Улюкаева» стало последней разработкой еще вчера могущественного генерала ФСБ Олега Феоктистова. Члены его команды покидают Лубянку, а иные отправляются в СИЗО и даже в бега" [The End of Sechin's Special Forces: The "Ulyukaev case" was the latest development of the powerful FSB General Oleg Feoktistov yesterday. Members of his team leave the Lubyanka, and some go to jail and even go on the run]. «Новые Времена» (NewTimes.ru). Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Сухотин, Андрей (Sukhotin, Andrey) (21 June 2019). "Серые начинают и выигрывают: Как в своей междоусобной войне силовики использовали чиновников, полицию, разгневанных журналистов и самого Ивана Голунова. Версия Андрея Сухотина" [he Greys start and win: How in their internecine war the security forces used officials, police, angry journalists and Ivan Golunov himself. Andrey Sukhotin's version]. «Новая газета» (novayagazeta.ru) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Hufelschulte, Josef (16 August 2024). "Brisante Details: CIA wollte deutsche Behörden nicht bei Gefangenen-Austausch dabeihaben" [Explosive details: CIA did not want German authorities to be involved in prisoner exchange]. FOCUS Online (focus.de) (in German). Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  33. ^ Feldmann, Marco (5 April 2022). "BND mit neuer Organisation" [BND with new organization]. Der Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  34. ^ Perez, Evan (1 August 2024). "3 Russians serving sentences for federal crimes were transferred to US Marshals". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  35. ^ Tuysuz, Gul (1 August 2024). "Turkey says it played mediator role in prisoner swap involving people from 7 countries". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Who has been released in the massive prisoner exchange". CNN. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  37. ^ a b c Litvinova, Dasha (1 August 2024). "Who's in the massive prisoner swap between Russia and the West?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  38. ^ Mackinnon, Amy; Gramer, Robbie (1 August 2024). "U.S. and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Swap Since Cold War". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Russia prisoner swap | Ilya Yashin: Prominent Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic released". The Indian Express. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  40. ^ a b Kottasová, Ivana (1 August 2024). "Who was freed in major prisoner swap between Russia and the West?". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Who was freed in biggest Russia-West prisoner swap since the Cold War?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  42. ^ Rainsford, Sarah (20 June 2020). "Paul Whelan: the strange case of the ex-marine jailed for spying in Russia". BBC. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  43. ^ ""Mika-Invasor": "Brazilian professor" arrested in Norway turns out to be poorly disguised GRU officer Mikhail Mikushin". The Insider. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  44. ^ Edmondson, Catie (1 August 2024). "Prisoners Are Back on U.S. Soil After Release by Russians". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  45. ^ Hanrahan, Tim (2 August 2024). "Freed WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich Is Back on U.S. Soil". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  46. ^ Pereira, Ivan (2 August 2024). "Trump lashes out at Biden over historic prisoner exchange that freed Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  47. ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (1 August 2024). "JD Vance: Prisoners coming home 'a testament to Trump's strength'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  48. ^ Klein, Charlotte (2 August 2024). "Everybody Is Mad at Bloomberg for Its Embargo-Breaking Gershkovich Scoop". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  49. ^ Golliver, Ben (1 August 2024). "U.S. women advance on an especially emotional day for Brittney Griner". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  50. ^ "Brittney Griner thrilled as Americans return in prisoner swap". ESPN. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  51. ^ Ables and Hassan, Kelsey and Jennifer (2 August 2024). "American teacher detained in Russia 'left behind again' in prisoner swap". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  52. ^ Falce, Lori (4 August 2024). "Distraught Marc Fogel speaks from Russian prison after being left out of prisoner swap deal". Trib Live. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  53. ^ AS, TV 2 (2 August 2024). "Hemmelig møte i Oslo". TV 2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ Rostad, Ida Louise (1 August 2024). "Spionsiktet gjesteforsker ved UiT del av fangeutveksling". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  55. ^ Rostad, Ida Louise (1 August 2024). "Spionsiktet gjesteforsker ved UiT del av fangeutveksling". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  56. ^ "Что мировые лидеры говорили про обмен заключенными". РБК (in Russian). 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Will the pardoned political prisoners be granted expungement?". spring96. Viasna Human Rights Centre. 11 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  58. ^ a b Rainsford, Sarah (30 July 2024). "Belarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swap". BBC. Warsaw, Poland. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  59. ^ a b "Пропагандистам уже выдали рекомендации по поводу того, как освещать обмен заключенными Они будут рассказывать, что Россия «избавилась от лишних» — и вернула домой тех, кто «работал на Родину»". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  60. ^ "«Хочется, конечно, чтобы предатели России сгнили в застенке или сдохли в тюрьме». Как российские политики и пропагандисты реагировали на обмен". Новая газета Европа. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  61. ^ a b c "Hier sprechen Putins Ex-Geiseln: "Habe mich geweigert, Russland zu verlassen"". Focus (German magazine). Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  62. ^ "Why Germany was key to prisoner swap deal with Russia – DW – 08/02/2024". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  63. ^ "British citizen released from Russian prison thought he was being 'led to his execution'". Sky News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  64. ^ Benjamin Lamoureux: " Wegen Herbeiführen einer Explosion: Generalbundesanwalt ermittelt gegen aus Belarus freigelassenen Deutschen" Tagesspiegel 23 August 2024
  65. ^ Çebi, Gizem Nisa (1 August 2024). "Türkiye reaffirms commitment to global peace after landmark prisoner exchange". www.aa.com.tr. Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  66. ^ "Türkiye reiterates commitment to int'l peace after US-Russia swap". Daily Sabah. Istanbul. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  67. ^ Infantes Capdevila, Guillermo (1 August 2024). "Liberado el español Pablo González tras un intercambio de presos con Rusia". Newtral (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  68. ^ "Archived copy". X.com (in European Spanish). RSF España. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024. Pablo González @pabvis ha sido al fin liberado en un intercambio de presos entre Rusia y Polonia, según su abogado, @boye_g . Nuestra alegría por su familia. Ahora que finalmente es libre, tras 28 meses detenido sin juicio, le corresponde a él dar las explicaciones sobre su caso.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  69. ^ Radford, Antoninette; Passantino, Jon (1 August 2024). ""Press freedom is a fundamental right": Media non-profits celebrate Gershkovich's expected release". CNN. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  70. ^ Robertson, Katie (1 August 2024). "Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists, called on Russia to release all jailed journalists and end its harassment of those in exile". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  71. ^ "Russian Cyber-Criminal Convicted of 38 Counts Related to Hacking Businesses and Stealing More Two Million Credit Card Numbers". Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024_Ankara_prisoner_exchange&oldid=1262465567"