The latest prisoner exchange between Russia and the US was broadcast live on Turkey's NTV channel. There were 2 planes from Russia arriving to exchange prisoners. According to NTV, the prisoner exchange list includes 2 children.
Turkish TV channel further informed that the prisoner exchange activity was carried out with the support of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization.
According to BBC, this is the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The US confirmed that the exchange took place early on August 1, with a total of 24 people released.
The White House informed that 16 prisoners have been released and are on their way back to Europe and the US, among them is Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
In return, eight Russian prisoners were released from prisons in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia, including individuals accused of intelligence activities. The children of two of these prisoners have also returned to Russia.
The prisoner exchange took place on the tarmac at Ankara airport, Turkey.
US President Joe Biden confirmed that former US Marine Paul Whelan, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian-British activist Vladimir Kara-Murza - who holds a US green card - are also on their way back. America.
The US-Russia prisoner exchange agreement has been in the works for more than 18 months and appears to depend on Moscow's request to return prisoner Vadim Krasikov - who is serving a life sentence in Germany for committing a crime. assassination in a park in Berlin. Krasikov has now returned to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, accompanied by a guard of honor, met the returning Russians at Moscow's Vnukovo airport.
Previous prisoner exchange discussions have included Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. However, the Russian opposition leader died in prison in February this year.
According to the New York Times, the good relationship of Türkiye - a NATO member country - with Russia has helped the country participate in the latest prisoner exchange between Russia and the US.
