The largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War is taking place between Russia and Western states. In addition to US reporter Gershkovich, Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krassikow will also probably be released.
It is a historic prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. A total of 13 people would be brought to Germany, three to the USA, and ten people to Russia in return. Among those released are the German Rico K., who was convicted in Belarus, the US journalist Evan Gershkovich, the former US soldier Paul Whelan, and the Russian Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krassikow.
Both the German and American governments confirmed the exchange after US media had previously reported on the impending deal. US President Biden spoke of a “masterpiece of diplomacy”.
The first signs of the prisoner exchange had been seen in recent days with the transfer of prisoners from Russian prisons. The death sentence against the German Rico K. in Belarus and his quick pardon by President Alexander Lukashenko also fueled speculation that the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War could be imminent.
Türkiye to coordinate exchange
The Turkish secret service said the exchange would take place on Thursday and would be coordinated by it.
The “Spiegel” reported that around midday, planes took off in both Russia and Germany for Ankara. The plane from Moscow is reportedly carrying US reporter Gershkovich. Also on a plane from Germany is the so-called Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krassikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in December 2021 for the murder of a Chechen-Georgian dissident in Berlin’s Tiergarten.
Joe Biden thanks Chancellor Scholz
US President Joe Biden has thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his contribution to the large-scale prisoner exchange with Russia. “Above all, I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Chancellor,” Biden said in a speech at the White House in Washington, attended by relatives of the Americans released from Russian custody. In view of the demands from Russia, he had to ask for “significant concessions” from Germany.
Originally, Germany was unable to fulfill these “because of the person in question.” But in the end, Germany did its part, as did several other countries that were involved in the negotiations. “This deal would not have been possible without our allies, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey, who all stood by us,” Biden said.
Scholz justified Krasikow’s release by citing the danger to life and limb of German citizens imprisoned in Russia. “Nobody took the decision lightly to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison,” Scholz said on Thursday evening at Cologne/Bonn Airport.
In this case, the state’s interest in executing the sentence had to be weighed against “the risk to the freedom of the body and, in some cases, the life of innocent people imprisoned in Russia and of those wrongfully imprisoned for political reasons.” For the federal government, the decisive factor was “that we have an obligation to protect German citizens as well as solidarity with the USA.”
Meanwhile, CDU security expert Roderich Kiesewetter has criticized the exchange: “I fear that the release of the convicted Tiergarten murderer will set a precedent that Russia can exploit politically on a massive scale,” he told the “Tagesspiegel” on Thursday. Russia is “a terrorist state that is now deliberately trying to establish hostage diplomacy.” This must be taken into account in all possibilities for the release of political prisoners.
Russia does not comment on releases
Vladimir Putin has recently repeatedly declared his willingness to take part in an exchange. The Kremlin chief has been criticized for using political prisoners as hostages to force the release of Russians from Western prisons. In recent days, there have been increasing indications that an exchange could be imminent.
The Kremlin has so far refused to comment on a possible prisoner exchange with the West. “I still have no comment to make on that,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday in Moscow. There is currently speculation about a prisoner exchange that could take place in the coming days or even in the coming hours. It could involve US citizens imprisoned in Russia by Moscow as well as Russian opposition figures.
Note: This article has been updated several times
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
