WSJ Reporter, Ex-Marine Among 26 Prisoners Exchanged In Largest Russia-West Swap Deal Since Cold War

A total of 26 prisoners will be exchanged involving seven nations in a swap deal between Russia and the Western nations, the largest such exchange since the Cold War. 

A major prisoner exchange is underway between Russia and the West.

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An exchange of prisoners between Russia and the Western nations, including the United States, took place in Ankara, several reports said on Thursday.

US citizens, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine soldier Paul Whelan and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were released earlier today at the Ankara airport on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, eight Russians held in the west were also returned to Russia.

A total of 26 prisoners were exchanged involving seven nations in a swap deal between Russia and the Western nations, the largest such exchange since the Cold War. 

Ten people, including two minors, were relocated to Russia, 13 prisoners to Germany, and three to the US, the report said.

LIVE: Russian government plane lands in Turkish capital amid signs of major prisoner swap https://t.co/0CbRYW6efB

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German citizen Rico Krieger, imprisoned in Belarus, Russian dissident Ilya Yashin and FSB colonel Vadim Krasikov, jailed in Germany, were also part of the exchange.

A Turkish statement said prisoners from the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Belarus and Russia were involved in the prisoner exchange “carried out” by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) intelligence service.

The swap comes after months of negotiations between Moscow and Washington. 

In a video streamed by Reuters, several people were seen disembarking from a plane at Turkey’s Ankara airport and walking onto the tarmac.

The prisoner swap has been dubbed as the biggest prisoner swap since the Cold War, according to Reuters. In the last such exchange in 2010, 14 prisoners were exchanged by both sides.

 

Speaking on the issue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva are now on their way back to the United States from Russia. Through the extraordinary efforts of countless people in the State Department and across our government, the United States was able to strike an agreement to secure their freedom, as well as that of Vladimir Kara-Murza and twelve others held prisoner inside Russia."

 

Blinken thanked the US allies — Germany, Poland, Norway, and Slovenia — for the support in making the deal possible. 

 

"We further appreciate the Turkish government providing a location for the safe return of these individuals to the United States and Germany," he added.