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Two dozen prisoners, including US journalist Evan Gershkovich and a Russian intelligence colonel imprisoned for a Berlin murder, were on Thursday released in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War read more
 "World reacts to Russia-West prisoners' swap")
Reporter Evan Gershkovich, centre, is greeted on the tarmac by his mother, Ella Milman, as President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris look on at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following the release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, on Thursday. AP
Two dozen prisoners, including US journalist Evan Gershkovich and a Russian intelligence colonel imprisoned for a Berlin murder, were on Thursday released in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
The complex multinational agreement, which secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter and others such as former US Marine Paul Whelan, followed months of covert negotiations.
The West secured the release of 16 people from Russia, including five Germans and seven Russian political prisoners, according to a statement by US President Joe Biden.
Russia, meanwhile, secured the freedom of several of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West.
The swap concluded with a dramatic exchange on the tarmac of an airport in Ankara.
Here’s how the world reacted:
United States: President Biden said the exchange was “a feat of diplomacy and friendship” and praised Washington’s allies for their “bold and brave decisions”.
“This would not have been possible without our allies,” Biden said, adding, “Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world.”
Kamala Harris, Vice President and leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, echoed Biden’s sentiments, stating, “I will not stop working until every American who is wrongfully detained or held hostage is brought home.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump criticised the Biden administration’s prisoner exchange with Russia on Truth Social, labelling American negotiators as “an embarrassment”.
“Our ’negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us!” Trump wrote. “They’re calling the trade ‘complex’ – that’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!”
Russia: The Kremlin said it hoped those who had left Russia, whom it described as “enemies”, would stay away, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
“I believe that all our enemies should stay there (abroad), and all those who are not our enemies should return. That’s my point of view,” TASS cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
“Let the traitors now feverishly pick up new names and actively disguise themselves under witness protection programmes,” former President Dmitry Medvedev said.
Meanwhile, Putin welcomed the returning ex-prisoners at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. He greeted each returnee with a brief embrace before they proceeded to the terminal.
“You will all be nominated for state awards. We will meet again to discuss your future. For now, I congratulate you on your return to your homeland,” Putin said in a short address to rturnees.
Poland: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk voiced gratitude to the country’s President Andrzej Duda and the security services for their work, which led to part of the exchange.
Właśnie zakończyła się operacja wymiany więźniów, dzięki której Rosję opuścili bohaterowie rosyjskiej opozycji oraz obywatele państw NATO, przetrzymywani w Rosji. Akcja była możliwa dzięki zaangażowaniu naszego państwa. Dziękuję Prezydentowi i służbom za wzorową współpracę.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) August 1, 2024“The prisoner exchange operation has just ended, thanks to which Russian opposition heroes and citizens of Nato countries detained in Russia left Russia. The action was possible thanks to the involvement of our state. I would like to thank the President and the services for their exemplary cooperation,” Tusk wrote on X.
Germany: Germany said the release of Vadim Krasikov, a Russian convicted of the murder in 2019 of a former Chechen fighter in Berlin in 2019, was “not an easy decision”.
“Our obligation to protect German nationals and our solidarity with the USA were important motivations,” the government said in a statement.
Norway: The Northern European country was part of the exchange, which released a Russian national charged with spying in the country.
“The exchange has been made possible through extensive international cooperation,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.
“For the Norwegian authorities, it has been important to contribute in such cooperation with our close allies. A close collaboration across several countries has made this possible,” he added.
United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he “strongly” welcomed the release of prisoners in Russia, especially Whelan and dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who hold British citizenship.
“Mr Kara-Murza is a dedicated opponent of Putin’s regime,” Lammy said in a statement. “He should never have been in prison in the first place: the Russian authorities imprisoned him in life-threatening conditions because he courageously told the truth about the war in Ukraine,” Lammy added.
United Nations: UN rights chief Volker Turk expressed his “relief” over the prisoner swap.
"@volker_turk expresses relief at release from jail of Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Alsu Kurmasheva & Oleg Orlov among others. All journalists & rights defenders detained solely for doing their jobs must be freed. They must be able to work safely, without fear,” said the United Nations Human Rights Office in a post on X.
Nato: Nato hailed the release of prisoners it said came from alliance members working in close cooperation.
“We welcome the release today of several political prisoners from Russia. The deal that secured their freedom was negotiated by several NATO allies working together,” spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.
Wall Street Journal: Wall Street Journal editor Emma Tucker, whose correspondent Gershkovich was included in the exchange, said the swap “done in a trade for Russian operatives guilty of serious crimes was predictable as the only solution given President (Vladimir) Putin’s cynicism.
“We are grateful to President Biden and his administration for working with persistence and determination to bring Evan home rather than see him shipped off to a Russian work camp for a crime he didn’t commit,” Tucker added.
Alexey Navalny widow Yulia Navalny: Many of those freed had worked with the late Alexey Navalny, Russia’s leading opposition figure. His widow Yulia Navalnaya said the release of Russian dissidents is “a great happiness”.
“Every released political prisoner is a huge victory and joy. No one should be held hostage by Putin, tortured and die in Putin’s prison,” she wrote on X.
Reporters Without Borders: The press freedom watchdog, known by its French acronym (RSF), said it is “hugely relieved” by the release of Gershkovich and his fellow journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
“Neither should have spent a single day in a Russian prison for doing their jobs as journalists,” RSF said in a statement.
With inputs from agencies
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English (US) ·