01:25Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Vnukovo airport on Thursday to welcome Russian citizens released as part of a major swap deal between Russia and Western countries.
Footage shows the guard of honour standing at the sides of a red-coloured strip as Putin arrived while the aircraft carrying the citizens can be seen taxiing. The president can then be seen greeting freed prisoners Mikhail Mikushin, Artyom Dultsev and his wife Anna.
The Kremlin press service reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree pardoning 13 foreign nationals serving sentences in the country to return Russians detained abroad as part of large-scale Russia-West prisoner exchange deal.
Among those freed were American citizen Paul Whelan, Germans Kevin Lik and Dieter (Demuri) Voronin, The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, political writer Vladimir Kara-Murza, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, human rights activist Oleg Orlov, public figures Liliya Chanysheva, Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, politician Ilya Yashin, former executive director of Open Russia non-commercial organisation Andrei Pivovarov, and artist Alexandra Skochilenko. Germany will also receive Rico Krieger convicted on terrorist charges, who was earlier pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The list of released Russians included Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, Vadim Krasikov, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin, and Vadim Konoschenok.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that 26 prisoners were exchanged between Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus under the co-ordination of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT).
10 individuals, including two minors, will be transported to Russia. 13 prisoners will return to Germany and three more to the US.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the exchange had been completed.
"A prisoner exchange operation has just ended, allowing Russian opposition figures and citizens of NATO countries detained in Russia to depart. The operation was possible thanks to the commitment of our state. I thank the President and the services for their exemplary co-operation," he wrote via his X account.
US President Joe Biden also announced the return of three Americans and one green card holder. "Finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza," he said.
On June 19, WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime penal colony on espionage charges. He was detained by the FSB on March 30, 2023, in Yekaterinburg, accused of collecting state secret information.
Former US marine Paul Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian, and Irish passports, was found guilty in June 2020 on charges of espionage and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was arrested in December 2018 after receiving a USB device from an undercover FSB officer, containing sensitive information.
German citizen Rico Krieger was charged over an explosion at Ozerishche railway station not far from Minsk in October 2023. He was sentenced to death, but pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on July 30.
Russian publicist and social activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in a penal colony in April 2023. He was found guilty of treason, spreading fake news about the Russian Armed Forces and participating in the activities of the Free Russia Foundation, an organisation declared 'undesirable' in the country.
Russian-German citizen Kevin Lik, accused of photographing and filming military equipment, was found guilty in December 2023 on charges of treason and sentenced to four years in prison. He was detained in Sochi in February 2023 after attempting to leave the country.
In February 2024, Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.
Andrei Pivovarov, former executive director of Open Russia, was detained in May 2021 on charges of collaborating with an organisation declared 'undesirable' in Russia.
Russian-German citizen Dieter (Demuri) Voronin was arrested during his visit to Russia in February 2021 and sentenced to 13 years in prison on treason charges in 2023.
Russian-American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to six and a half years in prison in July 2022.
In December 2022, Russian politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight years and six months in a penal colony for spreading false information about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces.
Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, Liliya Chanysheva, former heads of Alexei Navalny’s regional headquarters, were sentenced in 2023 to nine years and nine and a half years in a penal colony on extremism charges.
In November 2023, Russian artist Alexandra Skolichenko was sentenced to seven years in prison over spreading false information about the Russian military.
Putin arrives at Moscow airport to welcome Russian citizens amid large-scale exchange deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Vnukovo airport on Thursday to welcome Russian citizens released as part of a major swap deal between Russia and Western countries.
Footage shows the guard of honour standing at the sides of a red-coloured strip as Putin arrived while the aircraft carrying the citizens can be seen taxiing. The president can then be seen greeting freed prisoners Mikhail Mikushin, Artyom Dultsev and his wife Anna.
The Kremlin press service reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree pardoning 13 foreign nationals serving sentences in the country to return Russians detained abroad as part of large-scale Russia-West prisoner exchange deal.
Among those freed were American citizen Paul Whelan, Germans Kevin Lik and Dieter (Demuri) Voronin, The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, political writer Vladimir Kara-Murza, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, human rights activist Oleg Orlov, public figures Liliya Chanysheva, Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, politician Ilya Yashin, former executive director of Open Russia non-commercial organisation Andrei Pivovarov, and artist Alexandra Skochilenko. Germany will also receive Rico Krieger convicted on terrorist charges, who was earlier pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The list of released Russians included Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, Vadim Krasikov, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin, and Vadim Konoschenok.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that 26 prisoners were exchanged between Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus under the co-ordination of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT).
10 individuals, including two minors, will be transported to Russia. 13 prisoners will return to Germany and three more to the US.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the exchange had been completed.
"A prisoner exchange operation has just ended, allowing Russian opposition figures and citizens of NATO countries detained in Russia to depart. The operation was possible thanks to the commitment of our state. I thank the President and the services for their exemplary co-operation," he wrote via his X account.
US President Joe Biden also announced the return of three Americans and one green card holder. "Finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza," he said.
On June 19, WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime penal colony on espionage charges. He was detained by the FSB on March 30, 2023, in Yekaterinburg, accused of collecting state secret information.
Former US marine Paul Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian, and Irish passports, was found guilty in June 2020 on charges of espionage and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was arrested in December 2018 after receiving a USB device from an undercover FSB officer, containing sensitive information.
German citizen Rico Krieger was charged over an explosion at Ozerishche railway station not far from Minsk in October 2023. He was sentenced to death, but pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on July 30.
Russian publicist and social activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in a penal colony in April 2023. He was found guilty of treason, spreading fake news about the Russian Armed Forces and participating in the activities of the Free Russia Foundation, an organisation declared 'undesirable' in the country.
Russian-German citizen Kevin Lik, accused of photographing and filming military equipment, was found guilty in December 2023 on charges of treason and sentenced to four years in prison. He was detained in Sochi in February 2023 after attempting to leave the country.
In February 2024, Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.
Andrei Pivovarov, former executive director of Open Russia, was detained in May 2021 on charges of collaborating with an organisation declared 'undesirable' in Russia.
Russian-German citizen Dieter (Demuri) Voronin was arrested during his visit to Russia in February 2021 and sentenced to 13 years in prison on treason charges in 2023.
Russian-American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to six and a half years in prison in July 2022.
In December 2022, Russian politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight years and six months in a penal colony for spreading false information about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces.
Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, Liliya Chanysheva, former heads of Alexei Navalny’s regional headquarters, were sentenced in 2023 to nine years and nine and a half years in a penal colony on extremism charges.
In November 2023, Russian artist Alexandra Skolichenko was sentenced to seven years in prison over spreading false information about the Russian military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Vnukovo airport on Thursday to welcome Russian citizens released as part of a major swap deal between Russia and Western countries.
Footage shows the guard of honour standing at the sides of a red-coloured strip as Putin arrived while the aircraft carrying the citizens can be seen taxiing. The president can then be seen greeting freed prisoners Mikhail Mikushin, Artyom Dultsev and his wife Anna.
The Kremlin press service reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree pardoning 13 foreign nationals serving sentences in the country to return Russians detained abroad as part of large-scale Russia-West prisoner exchange deal.
Among those freed were American citizen Paul Whelan, Germans Kevin Lik and Dieter (Demuri) Voronin, The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, political writer Vladimir Kara-Murza, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, human rights activist Oleg Orlov, public figures Liliya Chanysheva, Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, politician Ilya Yashin, former executive director of Open Russia non-commercial organisation Andrei Pivovarov, and artist Alexandra Skochilenko. Germany will also receive Rico Krieger convicted on terrorist charges, who was earlier pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
The list of released Russians included Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, Vadim Krasikov, Mikhail Mikushin, Pavel Rubtsov, Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin, and Vadim Konoschenok.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that 26 prisoners were exchanged between Russia, the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus under the co-ordination of the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT).
10 individuals, including two minors, will be transported to Russia. 13 prisoners will return to Germany and three more to the US.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the exchange had been completed.
"A prisoner exchange operation has just ended, allowing Russian opposition figures and citizens of NATO countries detained in Russia to depart. The operation was possible thanks to the commitment of our state. I thank the President and the services for their exemplary co-operation," he wrote via his X account.
US President Joe Biden also announced the return of three Americans and one green card holder. "Finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza," he said.
On June 19, WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime penal colony on espionage charges. He was detained by the FSB on March 30, 2023, in Yekaterinburg, accused of collecting state secret information.
Former US marine Paul Whelan, who holds American, British, Canadian, and Irish passports, was found guilty in June 2020 on charges of espionage and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was arrested in December 2018 after receiving a USB device from an undercover FSB officer, containing sensitive information.
German citizen Rico Krieger was charged over an explosion at Ozerishche railway station not far from Minsk in October 2023. He was sentenced to death, but pardoned by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on July 30.
Russian publicist and social activist Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in a penal colony in April 2023. He was found guilty of treason, spreading fake news about the Russian Armed Forces and participating in the activities of the Free Russia Foundation, an organisation declared 'undesirable' in the country.
Russian-German citizen Kevin Lik, accused of photographing and filming military equipment, was found guilty in December 2023 on charges of treason and sentenced to four years in prison. He was detained in Sochi in February 2023 after attempting to leave the country.
In February 2024, Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.
Andrei Pivovarov, former executive director of Open Russia, was detained in May 2021 on charges of collaborating with an organisation declared 'undesirable' in Russia.
Russian-German citizen Dieter (Demuri) Voronin was arrested during his visit to Russia in February 2021 and sentenced to 13 years in prison on treason charges in 2023.
Russian-American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to six and a half years in prison in July 2022.
In December 2022, Russian politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight years and six months in a penal colony for spreading false information about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces.
Vadim Ostanin, Ksenia Fadeeva, Liliya Chanysheva, former heads of Alexei Navalny’s regional headquarters, were sentenced in 2023 to nine years and nine and a half years in a penal colony on extremism charges.
In November 2023, Russian artist Alexandra Skolichenko was sentenced to seven years in prison over spreading false information about the Russian military.