The United States and Russia carried out the largest prisoner exchange in the post-Soviet period, a deal that included the release of 24 prisoners, after months of negotiations and concessions by European countries that freed individuals held in prisons them as part of this exchange. The agreement does not appear to signal an improvement in relations between the United States and Russia, but it is nonetheless noteworthy. Analysts note an imbalance in the fact that wrongfully imprisoned Americans are being exchanged for criminals convicted in Western courts, but President Joe Biden says such deals require tough decisions.
Below are some important facts about the agreement:
Who were the freedmen?
Among the 24 individuals – some high-profile and some not – were journalists, political dissidents, suspected spies, a computer hacker, a fraudster and a convicted murderer.
Russia released 16 individuals, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive in Michigan. Both faced lengthy prison terms after being found guilty of espionage in Russia's politicized legal system, charges the US government has dismissed as baseless.
Among those released by Moscow is Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has dual US-Russian citizenship and was convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military – charges that her family and Europe and Lira have denied them.
The three Americans arrived Thursday night at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Russia also freed Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize winner Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for treason that was considered politically motivated.
Among the prisoners Russia took in exchange is Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany of killing a Chechen insurgent in a Berlin park two years ago, apparently on the orders of Russian security services. Among the prisoners were two “sleeper” agents who were imprisoned in Slovenia, three convicted by the American authorities and two from Norway and Poland.
Improving US-Russia relations?
This does not seem imminent.
The United States and Russia have made several prisoner swap deals during Russia's war in Ukraine, including one in December 2022 in which Moscow released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for arms trafficker Viktor Bout.
But none of these exchanges resulted in improved relations, especially at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to end aggression against Ukraine and Washington continues to send significant military support to Kiev.
More than anything else, prisoner exchanges are a rare source of compromise and alignment of mutual interests. However, the fact that the states reached agreement at a time of open hostilities is noteworthy.
Americans who remained in Russia
While Thursday's deal includes the most prominent Americans held in Russia, including two who were officially deemed wrongfully imprisoned, there are several other Americans who remain in Russia.
Among them are rock artist Travis Leake, convicted on drug charges, who is serving time in prison; US soldier Gordon Black, found guilty of theft and threatening to kill; Marc Fogel, a teacher serving time on drug charges, and Ksenia Khavana, who was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February for treason, on charges of raising funds for Ukraine's military.
Khavana returned to Russia to visit family. The owner of a beauty salon in California where Khavana worked in the past told The Associated Press that Khavana was actually raising funds for humanitarian aid.
In a press statement after the deal was announced, Mr. Fogel's family said it was “nonsense” that he was not included in the deal and called on Mr. Biden's administration to make his release a priority.
A senior administration official, who spoke to reporters before the exchange on the condition that he not be identified under White House rules, said the administration would redouble efforts to bring all Americans home.
Differences between those released from both sides
In prisoner swaps over the past few years, the US government has released criminals convicted of serious crimes, including arms and narcotics traffickers and a leader of the Taliban's narcotics ring.
The latest deal is no exception: The United States and its Western allies agreed to hand over to Russia criminals who are deemed to have been found guilty and sentenced under fair trials.
The most important example is that of Vadim Krasikov, who on August 23, 2019 was found guilty of murdering 40-year-old Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a citizen of Georgia, who had fought against Russian troops in Chechnya and later sought asylum in Germany.
When they sentenced Krasikov to life in prison in 2021, German judges said he acted under orders from Russian authorities, who provided him with a false identity, passport and resources to carry out the murder.
During the negotiations, Russia insisted that Krasikov be released as part of the exchange, making it clear that he was at the top of its list. President Putin signaled earlier this year that he was interested in such an exchange to free the “patriot” who was being held in Germany.
In contrast, the Americans and Europeans released by Russia include people who were considered by the United States to be unjustly imprisoned – as in the case of journalist Gershkovich and former Marine Whelan – or those who were generally considered to be detained on baseless charges.
“Deals like this come with difficult decisions,” President Biden declared, but added, “Nothing is more important to me than protecting Americans here and abroad.”
The deal could have included Navalny
Central to this deal was the man who never got to be part of it: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
At the time he died in February, officials were discussing a possible swap involving him and Mr. Krasikov as a way to meet Russia's ongoing demand for him and free the imprisoned Americans.
US administration officials described Mr Navalny's sudden and unexplained death as a step backwards, but they drew up a new plan to present to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In the end, several associates of Mr. Navalny were released.
The politics behind the deal
President Biden signaled his commitment to this deal last week when, during his speech from the Oval Office when he announced his decision not to run for re-election: “We are also working around the clock to bring home all Americans who have been convicted unfairly throughout the world.”
On Thursday, he celebrated the diplomatic success of the final months of his administration as he welcomed the families of returning American prisoners to the White House. Perhaps in a reference to his former rival Donald Trump's “America First” slogan, Mr Biden said: “Today is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world.”
Mr. Trump, who during his tenure has shown interest in the issue of hostages and wrongfully held Americans, claimed during the June debate with Mr. Biden that he would secure the release of the journalist Gershkovich immediately after winning the election.
On Thursday, he criticized the deal, falsely suggesting on his 'Social Truth' platform that the United States had given funds to Russia in exchange for the deal.
“Are we freeing murderers, assassins or thugs? I'm just curious because we never make good deals on anything, but especially hostage exchanges,” he wrote.
