A major prisoner exchange involving Russia, the US, and four European countries is underway in Ankara, the Turkish presidency has confirmed. Three US citizens imprisoned in Russia—Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva—are thought to be among those being released.
The exchange involves at least 24 prisoners, with eight Russian nationals expected to be returned to Russia, including Vadim Krasikov, identified by German officials as a colonel in Russia’s FSB intelligence service. Krasikov is serving a life sentence for the 2019 murder of a Kremlin opponent in a Berlin park and was reportedly on a plane to Ankara.
Speculation about a major swap increased after several dissidents and journalists jailed in Russia were moved from their prison cells to unknown locations. Kremlin opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has dual Russian-British citizenship, is among those whose whereabouts are unknown, fueling expectations of his release. Others potentially on the list include Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin and human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov.
The multiple “disappearance” of well-known prisoners in Russia was unusual, despite secret prison transfers being common. Earlier this week, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death for terrorism and other charges.
Source ~ BBC
NNEOMA UDENSI
Follow us on:
