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2024 Ankara prisoner exchange

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The three American nationals released in the exchange are joined by government officials and staff on their return flight to the United States:Evan Gershkovich(bottom-left),Paul Whelan(second from right), andAlsu Kurmasheva(bottom-right)

On 1 August 2024, the United States and Russia conducted the most extensiveprisoner exchangesince the end of theCold War,involving the release of twenty-six people. The exchange was realized at theAnkara Esenboğa AirportinTurkey.[1]

Following at least six months of secret multilateral negotiations,[2][3]Russia and Belarus released sixteen detainees while the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway collectively released eight detainees and two minors. Among those released were three American citizens:Evan Gershkovich,a reporter forThe Wall Street Journal,Alsu Kurmasheva,a journalist forRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,andPaul Whelan,a formerU.S. Marine;Gershkovich and Whelan had each received sixteen-year sentences forespionage,becoming acause célèbrein the U.S.[4][5]

The prisoner exchange, which has been described as one of the most complex in history,[6]took place atAnkara Esenboğa AirportinTurkey,whose government served as a mediator between the parties.[7][8]Under the terms of the agreement, the eight Russian nationals and two minors were transferred to Russia, while thirteen of the prisoners held by Russia and Belarus were released to Germany and three to the U.S.[9]Both the U.S. and Russia hailed the prisoner swap as a significant diplomatic victory.[10][7]

Background

[edit]
See also:Second Cold WarandRussia–United States relations
Protest outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin demanding the release of Russia'spolitical prisoners,February 2024

During the Cold War, the U.S. and theSoviet Unionroutinely exchanged prisoners, who were typically spies, military officers, or other government agents.[11][12]Theend of the Cold Warin 1991 resulted in a marked decline in espionage activities—and, accordingly, prisoner exchanges—between the U.S. and Soviet Union's successor, theRussian Federation;the most recent mass prisoner swap between the two countries occurred in 2010, when ten Russiansleeper agentsdetained in the U.S. as part of the so-called "Illegals Program"were exchanged for four prisoners held in Russia.

In response to risinggeopolitical tensions with the Westover the past decade, Russia has heightened its repression of both domestic dissent and perceived foreign influence, leading to the arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, many of whom are deemed by the U.S. government to have been "wrongfully detained".[11]In 2012, Russiaenacted a foreign agent lawthat has been used to persecute those deemed underforeign influence;the scope of the law was expanded in 2024.[13]Following the start of the ongoingRusso-Ukrainian Warin 2014, and especially since thefull-scale Russian invasionof Ukraine in 2022, the Russian government has intensified its crackdowns on domestic opposition and "foreign influence". On 4 March 2022, Russian PresidentVladimir Putinsigned into law a bill introducingprison sentences of up to 15 yearsfor spreading "fake news" about Russia's military operation in Ukraine;[14]thousands of Russians have been prosecuted under this law for criticizing the war in Ukraine,[15]including opposition politicianIlya Yashinand artistAleksandra Skochilenko.[16]

Trevor Reed,a U.S. Marine veteran arrested in Russia in 2019 allegedly for attacking a police officer, was released in April 2022 for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot and aviation transport expert imprisoned in the U.S. for drug smuggling. Less than a year after Reed's release, American basketball playerBrittney Griner,who had been arrested in February 2022 for drug smuggling,was exchangedthe following December for convicted Russian arms dealerViktor Bout.Several analysts and U.S. officials expressed concern that Russiaused Reed and Griner as leveragein response to theinternational sanctionsimposed upon it after their invasion of Ukraine.[17][18]Several other Americans held by Russia, including former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and schoolteacherMarc Fogel,had been contemplated as part of the exchange deal for Griner; the negotiations leading to her release reportedly paved the way for the most recent exchange of twenty-six individuals between both countries and their respective allies.[19]

The involvement of Belarus in the deal reflectsPutin's foreign policy,seeingpost-Soviet statesas Russia'ssphere of influenceand opposingNATO enlargementthere.[20][21]According to Western analysts,[22][23]Belarus acts on the Kremlin's demandunder the Russian-dominatedsupranational"Union State".

Prisoner exchange

[edit]

Negotiations and preparation

[edit]
U.S. PresidentJoe Bidenand family members of the released Americans speaking with the prisoners by phone in theOval Office,following the release of the Americans kept prisoner

During a February 2024 trip by GermanchancellorOlaf Scholzto Washington, D.C., the German and American governments began working on how to negotiate an agreement that would include the freeing of Russian opposition leaderAlexei Navalny.

U.S. Vice PresidentKamala Harrismet with Scholz andSlovenianprime ministerRobert Golobseparately during theMunich Security Conferencein February 2024 to privately discuss the negotiations.[24]AfterNavalny's death on the first day of the conference—explained by his allies as a killing to prevent the exchange—the proposal turned to focus on other prisoners.[25][26]

Prior to June 2024,Sergey Besedaheaded the Russian side of the negotiations that later led to the 2024 Ankara prisoner exchange; however, in June 2024, Vladimir Putin replaced Beseda with Aleksey Komkov.[27][a]The Vice President of Germany'sBNDPhilipp Wolff[b]also joined the negotiations at this time.[27]

On 21 July, American presidentJoe Bidencalled Slovenian prime ministerRobert Golobto secure the necessary pardons for two Russian spies held in the country that were to be exchanged as part of the swap.[26]

In the days leading up to the exchange, three Russians were transferred from facilities operated by theU.S. Bureau of Prisonsto theUnited States Marshals Service.[34]

Turkey served as a key mediator of the exchange and was named by President Biden as one of the nations that had "stepped up" to ensure that the prisoners were released;[35][10]the Turkish government, which maintains relatively warm relations with both parties, oversaw the physical exchange of prisoners at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.[8]

Individuals released

[edit]

Twenty-six individuals, including two minors believed to be the children of the two Russian spies in Slovenia, were released.[36][37][4]Marc FogelandKsenia Karelinawere not included as part of the exchange.[38]Individuals returning to Russia are from various countries: the United States, Germany, Slovenia, Poland, and Norway.[39]

Released by Russia and Belarus

[edit]

The following people were released by Russia and Belarus:[37][40][41]

Prisoners previously held by Russia and Belarus
Name Nationality Country detained in Held since Occupation Charges Prison sentence
Lilia Chanysheva Russia Russia 2021 Regional coordinator ofNavalny HeadquartersinUfa Extremism 9.5 years
Ksenia Fadeeva 2023 Regional coordinator of Navalny Headquarters inTomsk 9 years
Vadim Ostanin 2021 Regional coordinator of Navalny Headquarters inBarnaul
Evan Gershkovich United States 2023 Reporter forThe Wall Street Journal Espionage 16 years
Vladimir Kara-Murza Russia
United Kingdom 		2022 Opposition politician Treason 25 years
Rico Krieger Germany Belarus 2024 Red Crossemployee Terrorism Death
Alsu Kurmasheva Russia
United States 		Russia 2023 Journalist forRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Spreading false information about the Russian military 6.5 years
Kevin Lik Russia
Germany 		High school student Treason 4 years
Herman Moyzhes 2024 Immigration lawyer Not brought to trial
Oleg Orlov Russia Human rights activist Discrediting the Russian military 2.5 years
Andrei Pivovarov Russia 2021 Head ofOpen Russiapolitical organization Carrying out activities of an undesirable organization 4 years
Patrick Schöbel Germany 2024 Technician, was a tourist in Russia Drug smuggling (6 gummy bears coated withcannabis oil) Not brought to trial
Aleksandra Skochilenko Russia 2022 Artist and author Spreading false information about the Russian military 7 years
Demuri Voronin Russia
Germany 		2021 Political scientist Treason 13 years and 3 months
Paul Whelan United States
Canada
Ireland
United Kingdom[42] 		2018 Security executive and former U.S. Marine Espionage 16 years
Ilya Yashin Russia 2022 Opposition politician Spreading false information about the Russian military 8.5 years

Russian citizens released by Western countries

[edit]

The following people were released byWestern countries:[37][40][41]

Prisoners previously held by the West
Name Nationality Country detained in Held since Occupation Charges Prison sentence
Artem Dultsev Russia Slovenia 2022 Undercover spies,SVR Espionage 19 months
Anna Dultseva
Pablo González Yagüe
(a.k.a. Pavel Rubtsov) 		Russia
Spain 		Poland Journalist, suspectedGRUagent Not sentenced
Vladislav Klyushin Russia United States 2023 Businessman Fraud 9 years
Vadim Konoshchenock Estonia
United States 		2022 SuspectedFSBofficer Conspiracy to evade sanctions Not sentenced
Vadim Krasikov Germany 2021 FSBofficer Murder (ofZelimkhan Khangoshvili) Life in prison
José Assis Giammaria
(a.k.a. Mikhail Mikushin) 		Russia
Brazil[43] 		Norway 2022 Researcher, suspectedGRUagent Espionage Not brought to trial
Roman Seleznev Russia Maldives
United States 		2014 Hacker 38 charges related to hacking[c] 27 years

Responses

[edit]

United States

[edit]
U.S. presidentJoe Bidendelivered remarks following the exchange

In the United States, Republican representativeMichael McCaul,the chairman of theHouse Committee on Foreign Affairs,praised the exchange and claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin had a "strategy of detaining individuals for negotiations".[44]

Republican presidential nominee and former presidentDonald Trumpcalled the exchange "a win for Putin" and said that it "sets a very bad precedent" for US. He also questioned if money was involved in the deal.[45][46]His running mate,JD Vance,however, called the exchange "great news", and said that Trump deserved credit for it, claiming Putin was motivated to "clean house" by fear of a future Trump presidency.[47]

News of the exchange was broken byBloombergprior to the plane's landing in Turkey; this was criticized by other outlets because information provided by the White House to journalists wasembargoeduntil the individuals were successfully released.[48]

After finishing a2024 Summer Olympicsmatch with Team U.S.A. winning 87–73 over Belgium, Olympiad basketball player andPhoenix MercurycenterBrittney Griner,who had previously been in discussions withPaul Whelanfor a joint release together before theViktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchangecame about, expressed great joy over hearing about the prisoner exchange, saying that she's "head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that's a win."[49]She would also add that "although today is one of celebration, our hearts go out to the many Americans still being held hostage overseas, and their families. As we extend support to those who have returned and celebrate the collective hands that helped to make American families whole – we must continue to do everything we can to shine a light on the remaining Americans detained."[50]

The family and supporters ofMarc Fogel,a schoolteacher from Western Pennsylvania who has been in prison in Russia for three years for the same crime as Griner——bringing a small amount of medical marijuana into the country–—objected to him being left out of the swap.[51]Fogel was reportedly devastated by it.[52]The US State Department has refused to designate Fogel as "wrongfully detained" as it did Griner before negotiating her release.

Norway

[edit]

Prime MinisterJonas Gahr Støredescribed the exchange as a difficult dilemma: "Normally, we want people who are arrested and suspected of crimes in our countries to be investigated and possibly brought to trial according to our principles of the rule of law. So, intervening in that is a very serious matter. But you have to make that assessment in a broader context. And that broader context indicated that it was the right thing to do."[53]

Minister of Foreign AffairsEspen Barth Eidestated that the exchange was part of a larger goal where it is important for Norway to act as a good ally and to contribute where other countries have had great needs and Norway has been able to assist.[54]He also commented on the case of Mikhail Mikushin, a suspected GRU agent imprisoned in Norway: "This [the exchange] is in practice the closest one gets to an official confirmation that he is a Russian intelligence officer and not a Brazilian researcher, as he has originally claimed to be.[55]

Russia

[edit]
Vadim Krasiko in a tracksuit and cap and three other men descend from an airplane labeled ТҮ-204-300. The airplane and the stairs are labeled "Russia" in Russian and with the three colors of the Russian flag. The heads of two soldiers with guns mounted with bayonets partially block the view.
Vadim Krasikov and others are received by a guard of honor atVnukovo International Airport,Moscow.

The Kremlin press service stated that "the decision to sign [pardoning] decrees was made with the goal of returning Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in foreign countries." It was noted that the Russian side is grateful to the leadership of all countries that assisted in the preparation of the exchange and is also thankful to Belarusian PresidentAlexander Lukashenkofor pardoning Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death in Belarus.[56]He was pardoned by Lukashenko shortly before he was released as part of the prisoner exchange.[57][58]

According toMeduza,state and pro-government media were given recommendations from the Kremlin's information bloc on how to cover the exchange. When mentioning political prisoners, specific sentences received by exchange participants were to be referenced. Russian political prisoners were to be referred to as "troublemakers and traitors," "agents of the West," and that "nothing serious happened – we got rid of the unnecessary." The citizens received in the exchange were to be noted as those who "worked for the Motherland"; for instance, in reports about Vadim Krasikov, it was to be indicated that he "eliminated a field commander, an enemy."[59]

Novaya Gazetanotes that Russian pro-government media generally covered the prisoner exchange topic in a restrained manner, mostly in news format: Russians were exchanged for "a group of people who acted in the interests of foreign states and conducted subversive activities."[60]In this format, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on the exchange, stating that it was necessary to "pull out our own" in exchange for traitors.[59]

Germany

[edit]

Freed as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the West, the opposition figures,Andrei Pivovarov,Vladimir Kara-MurzaandIlya Yashin,had mixed feelings about the deal.[61]Kara-Murza stated that article 61 of theConstitution of Russiaforbids to deport citizens if they do not approve. None of them did so or was even asked to do so. Yashin added that he is Russian, a Russian politician, and sees himself as a patriot, whose place is in Russia.[61]

Yashin said it was hard to accept that he was free "because a murderer was free" — a reference toVadim Krasikov,a Russian convicted ofkilling a former Chechen militantin Berlin in 2019 and released as part of the deal.[61]

They were flown to Germany after being released and met by German ChancellorOlaf Scholzat the Bonn Cologne airport.

"It was not easy for anyone to make this decision to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison," Scholz said at the airport.[62]He added he took the decision out of an obligation to protect German nationals and solidarity with the United States.

Kara-Murza defended Scholz's decision, saying the only thing that matters is that human lives were saved by going through with the agreement.[63]

After his return, thePublic Prosecutor Generalstarted an investigation of Rico Krieger for participating in a bombing plot. Krieger had stated he originally wanted to volunteer with the Ukrainian defense forcesKastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment,but that his online application was answered by the Ukrainian secret service instead. Krieger said he was asked to go to Belarus, take photos of key infrastructure and pick up a backpack in a forest. The next day he was arrested by Belarussian police and later sentenced to death.[64]He was pardoned by Lukashenko shortly before he was released as part of the prisoner exchange.[58][57]

Turkey

[edit]

Turkish Foreign MinisterHakan Fidanpraised the "historic" operation and congratulated theNational Intelligence Organizationstaff who took part in the operation. "Türkiye will continue to be the center of peaceful diplomacy in line with the vision of PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan,"he added.[65]

The press service of theTurkish Foreign Ministrystated that "from the very beginning of the negotiation process to the final moment of the exchanges, all security measures, logistical planning, and needs of the operation were managed by the National Intelligence Organization."[66]

Organizations

[edit]

Reporters Without Bordersstated that Gershkovich "should have never spent a single day in a Russian prison", and their director of campaignsRebecca Vincentcalled his arrest "outrageous". The Spanish branch of RWB, which had campaigned for Pablo González's right to a trial in Poland, asked him for explanations.[67][68] TheEuropean Centre for Press and Media Freedomcelebrated Gershkovich's expected release.[69]Committee to Protect Journalistschief executiveJodie Ginsbergrequested the release of all detained journalists in Russia.[70]

See also

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Alexey Komkov (Russian:Алексей Комков) was the head of the FSB Internal Security Directorate from September 2016 after the 8 July 2016 resignation of the former head of the FSB Internal Security Directorate Sergey Borisovich Korolev, which vacated the chair of Korolev in the CSS, because Korolev was promoted to the post of head of the Economic Security Service of the FSB of Russia. Alexey Komkov headed the FSB Internal Security Directorate until 2018 when he was transferred to the FSB Counterintelligence Service. Komkov is a protégé ofSergey Korolev[28][29][30][31]
  2. ^Philipp Wolff(born 1972,Gräfelfing) was the Vice President for Central Tasks (German:Vizepräsident für zentrale Aufgaben) of Germany'sBNDsince 1 November 2022 when he replacedMichael Baumannafter the BND restructured during 2022.[27][32][33]
  3. ^According to theU.S. Department of Justice,he was convicted on "[ten] counts of wire fraud, eight counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, nine counts of obtaining information from a protected computer, nine counts of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and two counts of aggravated identity theft".[71]

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[edit]
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Further reading

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