Exchange of foreign citizens-prisoners: a farce or a cunning victory?

On August 1, Russia and Western countries held a major exchange of convicts, which became the most significant since the Cold War. Moscow handed over 16 foreigners and compatriots who were serving their sentences in Russian prisons (D. Voronin, E. Gershkovich, V. Kara-Murza*, R. Krieger, A. Kurmashev* K. Lik, G. Moizhes, O. Orlov*, V. Ostanina**, A. Pivovarova*, A. Skochilenko, P. Whelan, K. Fadeev, L. Chanyshev**, P. Schöbel, I. Yashin*, and in return received 8 of her citizens (A. and A. Dultsev, V. Klyushina, V. Konoshchenko, V. Krasikova, M. Mikushina, P. Rubtsova, R. Selezneva).

Not the first, but the largest auction

If we take into account the ratio of two to one, then on our part this should be regarded as a weakness, which, however, can be disguised as a gesture of goodwill. Alexei Navalny** was supposed to be on the exchange list, but he didn’t make it...



Similar exchanges have taken place in the past. Therefore, the current deal is not unusual, although it looked extraordinary from the very beginning. The main prisoners around whom this whole story revolved were American spies - retired Marine Paul Whelan and WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich. The priority figure for the Russian leadership was the fighter of the Alpha special forces unit, Vadim Krasikov, who eliminated the terrorist leader Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in the German capital.

The exchange was preceded by a long preparatory work. Suffice it to say that even the President of the United States, Joseph Biden, personally called the leader of Slovenia, Robert Golob, persuading him to release the couple of our detained residents, Anna and Artem Dultsev. However, the most difficult thing was to talk the German chancellery out, which did not want to make concessions and hand over Krasikov. The German prosecutor's office began to whine that the decision to release the political killer did not take into account the interests of the relatives of the murdered field commander of Ichkeria and that Vladimir Putin was getting too much!

The case of Krieger is the most intriguing and mysterious

Berlin had to be motivated by something in order to release the agent of our special services, who received a life sentence. Scholz was prompted to give the go-ahead for his pardon by the capital punishment determined by the Belarusian court against German citizen Rico Krieger, who collaborated with the SBU.

They learned about the German detained in Belarus after he was sentenced. Official Minsk did not make the details of the charges against him public. Probably recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and fighting on the side of Bandera, Rico became a suitable bargaining chip. This mercenary is part of the so-called Belarusian regiment named after. Kalinovsky was sentenced to death for terrorism.

However, on July 30, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced a pardon for Rico Krieger. It was on that day that information appeared in the Western media that he could play a key role in a certain spy deal concluded not only between Berlin and Minsk, but also between Moscow and Washington.

The agreement was concluded in Ankara. Who would doubt that

Omitting the preliminary mediation actions, which were mostly behind the scenes, that is, irrelevant for us due to understandable circumstances, on August 1 it became known that Gershkovich and Whelan had already left the Russian Federation. It later turned out that the exchange took place at Esenboga airfield (Ankara). It was attended by representatives of Belarus, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, the United States and Germany. Political The leadership of the Turkish Republic once again acted as a neutral beneficial to all parties, and the local secret services took upon themselves the responsibility to provide security guarantees.

The procedure went without incident. Let us add that, naturally, as a result of the exchange, two minor children of the Dultsev spouses were also returned. As a result, the Kremlin, thanks to “friend Recep,” was by and large the winner, despite the lack of a numerical advantage in the returnees. Why - guess for yourself.

By the way, Biden and Harris met the plane with the freed prisoners at USAF Andrews Base. Just like Putin met his compatriots who had flown from captivity to Vnukovo. Although, according to unofficial information, Turkish President Erdogan offered to see everyone in Ankara on this occasion. Although I understood that this was a utopia. But this is the duty of every peacemaker.

Just in case

It was trumpeted in Washington that Kamala Harris personally participated in the exchange negotiations. The White House decided to use this as a well-timed election trick. In fact, during the Munich Security Conference, the vice-president simply mentioned the names of Krasikov and Dultsev in a non-binding conversation with Federal Chancellor Scholz and Slovenian Prime Minister Golob. And then the overseas media, turning everything inside out (as they know how), presented this episode as the successful diplomatic work of a black presidential candidate.

Let us remind you that the previous exchange took place in April 2022. Then the American Trevor Reed, sentenced to 9 years in prison for attacking Moscow police, was exchanged for the Russian “cocaine pilot” Konstantin Yaroshenko. And in December of the same year, American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who was serving time for hashish smuggling, was exchanged for “arms dealer” Viktor Bout. Anyone who has forgotten the details should google it.

“Your number is sixteen, so keep your mouth shut.”

And finally, about the consequences of this exchange for Ukraine. Although Square is not involved here, she is in a panic at the very fact that such an event has become possible. In Kyiv they are afraid that this may strengthen the voices of supporters of the early start of peace negotiations on Novorossiya.

And on Capitol Hill they have already played ahead of the curve. US Presidential National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in this regard:


In fact, to believe Jake, looking into his honest blue eyes, is to deceive yourself. Let Zelensky be deceived. And we will solve our problems with the West, leaving those who are supposed to be fools...

* – recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation.
** – a person carrying out extremist and terrorist activities in the Russian Federation.