On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a heartfelt reception to a group of Russian nationals returning to their homeland, including a notorious convicted killer, marking the largest East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War.
Putin personally greeted the eight returnees at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, embracing some with hugs and kisses while offering formal handshakes to others.
Among those returning was Vadim Krasikov, known for the high-profile killing of a Chechen dissident in Berlin. Also included in the exchange were Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznev, who were convicted of cyber crimes in the United States.
Krasikov, 58, was convicted in Germany for the murder of Zelimkhan ‘Tornike’ Khangoshvili, a Chechen separatist.
He executed Khangoshvili in broad daylight in Berlin’s Kleine Tiergarten park in December 2021, a crime described by the German court as a ‘state-contracted killing’ linked to the Kremlin.
Putin’s personal demand for Krasikov’s release was seen as a central factor in the swap deal.
In a public address, Putin congratulated the returning Russians, expressing his gratitude for their loyalty and service.
He also thanked those who had served in Russia’s military for their commitment.
The prisoner swap also saw the release of several Western nationals.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, jailed in 2023 on espionage charges, was among those freed.
The UK welcomed the return of British nationals Vladimir Kara-Murza and Paul Whelan. Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, had been serving a 25-year sentence on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. Whelan, a corporate security executive, had been imprisoned on espionage charges since 2018.
Complex Negotiations and Global Reactions
The swap involved negotiations with multiple countries, including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway. U.S. President Joe Biden praised these allies for their role in the complex negotiations.
The exchange, taking place amidst strained Western-Russian relations, has drawn comparisons to Cold War-era exchanges, including the dramatic swaps across Berlin’s Glienicke Bridge.
Critical Reactions and Political Implications
Former UK Ambassador to Russia, Sir Tony Brenton, criticized the Kremlin’s tactics, suggesting that the detention of Westerners was a strategic move to secure the release of Russian prisoners.
In the UK, Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed relief at the return of British nationals. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump called for more details about the swap, questioning if money was involved.