BTN News: The United States and Russia completed their largest prisoner exchange of the post-Soviet era on Thursday, a complex deal involving 24 individuals, months of negotiations, and concessions from various European countries that released Russians in their custody as part of the operation.
Key Individuals Freed
Among the 24 individuals—some well-known, others less so—were journalists, political dissidents, alleged spies, a hacker, a fraudster, and even a convicted murderer.
Russia released 16 people, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan. Both faced long prison sentences after being convicted in Russia’s highly politicized judicial system on espionage charges, which the U.S. government deemed unfounded.
Also freed was Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter with dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, convicted in July for spreading false information about the Moscow military—charges her family and her media outlet rejected.
Gershkovich, Whelan, and Kurmasheva arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday night, welcomed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Additionally, Russia freed Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer serving a 25-year sentence for treason, a charge widely regarded as politically motivated.
On the other hand, the most notable of the eight individuals returning to Russia was Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany in 2021 for the assassination of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, allegedly on orders from Moscow’s security services. Also returning were two suspected “sleeper” agents imprisoned in Slovenia, three men charged by U.S. federal authorities, and two others sent back from Norway and Poland.
Implications for U.S.-Russia Relations
While such exchanges have occurred during Russia’s war with Ukraine, like the December 2022 swap where Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, these exchanges have not led to significant improvements in relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and Washington’s substantial military support for Kyiv remain major stumbling blocks.
Prisoner exchanges have provided a rare avenue for agreement and mutual interest rather than signaling broader diplomatic progress. Still, achieving such a deal amidst open hostility is noteworthy.
Americans Still Detained
Despite Thursday’s agreement including high-profile Americans held in Russia, several others remain. This group includes musician Travis Leake, imprisoned on drug charges; soldier Gordon Black, convicted of theft and death threats; teacher Marc Fogel, also on drug charges; and Ksenia Khavana, detained in February for treason, accused of fundraising for the Ukrainian military.
Khavana had returned to Russia to visit family, and the California spa owner she worked for told The Associated Press that she was raising funds for humanitarian aid.
Fogel’s family issued a statement calling his exclusion “inconceivable” and urged Biden to prioritize his release. A senior government official, speaking anonymously as per White House norms, emphasized ongoing efforts to bring the remaining Americans home.
Disparity in Exchanged Prisoners
In recent years, the U.S. has released individuals convicted of serious crimes, including drug and arms traffickers and a Taliban drug lord, in prisoner exchanges. The latest swap was no exception, with Western allies agreeing to return individuals considered properly accused and convicted.
The clearest example is Vadim Krasikov, convicted of the August 23, 2019, murder of Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian who fought against Russian troops in Chechnya and later sought asylum in Germany. German judges stated that Krasikov acted on Russian authorities’ orders, who provided him with a false identity, passport, and resources for the assassination.
Throughout negotiations, Moscow was adamant about recovering Krasikov, with Putin hinting earlier this year at interest in a swap to free a “patriot” held in Germany.
In contrast, the Americans and Europeans released by Russia were viewed as unjustly detained or held on baseless charges.
“Deals like this involve tough decisions,” Biden said, adding, “There is nothing I care more about than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”
Navalny’s Absence from the Deal
Central to the negotiation process was Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who never became part of the final deal. Following his death in February, discussions considered including him and Krasikov to meet Russia’s persistent demand for Krasikov’s return and facilitate the Americans’ release.
Navalny’s sudden and unexplained death was seen as a setback for these efforts, prompting the development of a new plan presented to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Ultimately, several of Navalny’s allies were released.
Political Dimensions
Biden had signaled his commitment to a deal last week, announcing his re-election bid and emphasizing efforts to bring unjustly detained Americans home.
On Thursday, after meeting the families of freed Americans at the White House, Biden celebrated the diplomatic success in his administration’s final months. In a subtle nod to former President Donald Trump’s “America First” slogan, Biden remarked, “Today’s a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world.”
Trump, who also focused on hostage and unjust detention cases during his presidency, had claimed during a June debate with Biden that he would secure Gershkovich’s release upon winning the election. On Thursday, he criticized the agreement, erroneously suggesting on his Truth Social platform that Washington paid Russia for the deal.
“Are we releasing murderers or wrongdoers? Just curious, because we never make good deals, in anything, but especially in hostage exchanges,” Trump wrote.
This historic prisoner exchange, marked by intricate diplomacy and controversial decisions, highlights the complex dynamics of international relations and the ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of detained nationals.
