The historic prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia was met with mixed reactions on both sides of the Atlantic. The following material details the complicated process of reaching the agreement and reactions to what marked the largest prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia since the Cold War.
The historic prisoner exchange with Russia was the fruit of difficult and secretive talks and a crucial phone call from President Joe Biden, an hour before he told the world he was dropping out of the race for re-election.
The effort to free journalists Evan Gershkovic and Alsu Kurmasheva and 14 other Americans involved high-level talks with Russia at a time when East-West relations are in open conflict over the war in Ukraine.
“The extraordinary nature of the diplomatic engagement shows that even though the Western powers and Russia are at odds, there is still room for diplomatic cooperation. It is a ray of hope. The question is whether Western countries will use their diplomatic influence, pressure and diplomatic capital to demand the release of other dissidents.”says Victor Peskin of Arizona State University.
Meanwhile, the professor of Columbia University in New York, Timothy Frye emphasizes the difference between the exchanged prisoners.
“It is important to note the moral asymmetry in the type of prisoners who have been released. The prisoners released by Russia are mostly journalists, human rights activists and anti-war protesters. On the Russian side, there are cyber hackers, agents who engage in murder and in one case, a prisoner who was convicted of murder in Germany and sentenced to life in prison.” says Professor Frye.
US officials have acknowledged that it also meant strong support for European allies reluctant to capitulate to Moscow's demands.
Russia's biggest condition was the release of Vadim Krasikov, the Russian jailed in Germany for killing a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin in 2019.
“It was a very difficult decision. From our point of view, the gift of freedom and life of prisoners in Russia and Belarus was more important. We have seriously considered the fact that we are freeing a person convicted of murder, but we did it so that these 15 people have a life in freedom, a good perspective for their future.” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
The exchange of prisoners with Russia, especially the freed journalists, has made American citizens happy.
“I think the time had come. Reporter Gershkovich should not have been arrested in the first place. This was purely political. Putin does this all the time.” says Jack Marrow, a resident of Philadelphia.
“Journalists should never be in prison”, says Irene Foley, also from Philadelphia.
Moscow resident Alexander is also happy about the release of Russian political prisoners, but he adds:
“These were only the most famous figures who were released, while those who are less famous are still in prison. It is scandalous that so many people are in prison.”
Another Muscovite, Sergei, praised the return of Russian prisoners, saying they should not serve long sentences abroad.
“It's good that there is equality, some people are in prison there and some people are here, so that we can return our people easily,” it is.
To get to the release of the prisoners, one of the most dramatic moments happened when all of America was focused on the news that President Biden was withdrawing from the election race. On the very day he announced his withdrawal from the race, Mr. Biden called his Slovenian counterpart who then released two of the Russians, who had been convicted by a court of espionage. According to US officials, this led Moscow to agree to a prisoner exchange.
