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Even seasoned geopolitical observers were surprised.
But behind the scenes, months of intense negotiations, near misses and a run-up filled with ethical compromises had been unfolding. The largest East-West prisoner exchange in decades.
Since the Cold War, secret agents and political prisoners have often been BerlinBridge of Spies, where so many captives were traded.
The extremely complex deal, which had previously collapsed and was in doubt until just before it was signed, freed 24 prisoners from jails in seven countries. The prisoners included two British citizens, eight Russian agents, four Americans, five Germans and five Russian anti-Putin activists.
In the final moments of his presidency, he was in trouble. Joe Biden China acted as a soothsayer as Western officials bickered over the terms.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., after being released from Russian detention on Thursday.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greet Evan Gershkovich as he arrives in the U.S. following his release from Russia on Thursday
Gershkovich’s mother, Ella Millman, hugs him as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., on Thursday.
Especially the Germans were reluctant to release Kremlin assassin Vadim Krasikov – shot dead a Chechen exile in Berlin five years ago – reportedly worried that any exchange would become Russia.
But in a secret meeting during other diplomatic conferences, President Biden finally convinced German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to agree to the proposal.
Analysts say it’s a moral compromise that could have lasting consequences.
Because if Vladimir Putin was unsure before whether he could win back his valuable followers, he no longer has any doubts about it.
It was a secret deal if there ever was one. Russia’s illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine, East-West relations are at their worst in decades.
Yet, as this exchange demonstrates, spy chiefs in London, Washington and Moscow are still talking to each other.
Throughout the negotiations, secret officials established special channels to discuss various prisoner proposals.
The exchange took place on Thursday in the Turkish capital Ankara, which has previously served as a mediator in prisoner swaps between Russia and Western countries.
A Russian Tupolev Tu-204-300 aircraft was about to land at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport when an exchange of fire occurred.
Former US Marine Paul Whelan has also been released as part of a major prisoner swap
Radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was arrested last October for failing to register as a foreign agent, has also been released
President Biden shared the photo shortly after the release, captioning it: “After unimaginable pain and uncertainty, the Americans detained by Russia are now safe, free, and beginning their journey back to the arms of their families.”
Detainees discussed included Paul Whelan, former U.S. Marine Is a citizen of four countries, including the United Kingdom.
In December 2018, he was arrested by balaclava-wearing Kremlin officials as he traveled to Moscow to attend a wedding, who accused him of espionage.
Mr Whelan spent 2,043 days in detention, during which he sang the national anthem to keep his spirits up and once joked that the Russians thought they had arrested James Bond when in fact they were detaining Mr Bean.
His ordeal finally ended at a quarter before midnight local time when a plane carrying him Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and others landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
Mr Whelan was the first to be greeted by Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, saluting before shaking their hands.
The deal appeared to have fallen apart months ago after Putin’s critic and political rival Alexei Navalny died in a Russian prison in February.
After Russia released Arsu Kurmasheva (second from left), she arrived at Kelly Airport and was warmly welcomed by her family
Former prisoners released by Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and journalist Arzu Kurmasheva, pose for a group photo after arriving at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly in Texas on August 2.
Previously, Germany was willing to exchange Krasikov for Navalny’s safety. But with Navalny’s death, many observers believe that this exchange will fall through.
Work to revive the deal began immediately after his death at the Munich Security Conference — and continued even after Biden’s disastrous televised debate with Donald Trump.
July 19, Russian court finds Gershkovich guilty of espionage He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a high-security detention center. From the outside, this was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the journalist.
But those who know the truth suspect otherwise. Before the prisoner swaps, Moscow authorities often sentenced those about to be released to extremely long prison terms.
Mr. Gershkovich and others were pardoned yesterday and finally got a taste of freedom.
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