The largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States since the Cold War took place this Thursday: These are the 24 prisoners released.
The largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War took place on Thursday, resulting in the release of 24 prisoners of different nationalities, the U.S. government confirmed.
The exchange comprises 16 prisoners released from Russia, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in 2023 on charges related to espionage in Moscow. In return, the West sent eight prisoners to the Kremlin, released from prisons in the United States, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia.
Turkey supported the negotiations and Ankara Esenboğa Airport hosted the historic exchange.
Who are the prisoners released in the historic exchange?
According to official information, these are the 24 prisoners who were part of the historic exchange between Russia and the West.
Released by Russia
The release by Russia includes four U.S. citizens, Moscow dissidents and some prisoners of German nationality. Here is the full list:
- Evan Gershkovich, U.S. journalist
- Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine.
- Alsu Kurmasheva, Russian-American journalist
- Herman Moyzhes, German lawyer
- Vladimir Kara-Murza, opposition politician
- Kevin Lik, Russian-German
- Patrick Schoebel, German
- Demuri (Dieter) Voronin, German
- Ilya Yashin, Russian opposition politician
- Ksenia Fadeeva, Russian activist
- Andrei Pivovarov, Russian activist
- Alexandra Skochilenko, Russian artist
- Oleg Orlov, Russian human rights defender
- Lilia Chanysheva, Russian activist
- Vadim Ostanin, Russian activist
- Rico Krieger, German
- Released by the West
The eight prisoners returned to Russia were released from the United States, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia. Here is the list:
- Roman Seleznev, hacker – released from USA.
- Vladislav Klyushin, convicted murderer – released from USA
- Vadim Konoshchenok – released from USA
- Artem Dultsev, spy – released from Slovenia
- Anna Dultseva, spy – released from Slovenia
- Mikhail Mikushin, spy – released from Norway
- Pavel Rubtsov, spy – released from Poland
- Vadim Krasikov, convicted murderer – released from Germany
Biden celebrates prisoner release
Once the exchange was finalized, President Biden shared a postcard, celebrating the release of prisoners:
“After enduring unimaginable suffering and uncertainty, the Americans held in Russia are safe, free, and have begun their journey back to the arms of their families,” President Biden wrote via social media.
As revealed by the president, Paul was imprisoned six years ago for attending a wedding in Russia, while Evan, who entered prison in March 2023, was charged with espionage while on assignment coverage for the Wall Street Journal. Alsu had been imprisoned since October 2023 after being accused of failing to present herself as a “foreign agent” while visiting her ailing mother. Vladimir was convicted of treason after speaking out against the Putin regime.
“Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in rigged trials and sentenced them to long prison terms for no legitimate reason. None. Now their brutal ordeal is over, and they are free”, he concluded.