Russia releases VIDEO of biggest prisoner swap since Cold War
Footage from the FSB shows US and German nationals boarding a plane before the exchange | The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has released a video showing the moment 16 people released by Moscow to the West were about to fly to Türkiye for an exchange. Moscow and Washington swapped a total of 26 prisoners in the biggest exchange of this type in modern history. According to the FSB, eight Russian nationals held in the US, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia, and two children were exchanged for individuals who “acted in the interests of foreign states to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation.” Footage published by the FSB shows Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich being driven to an airport in a bus before boarding a plane along with former US Marine Paul Whelan and German national Rico Krieger, and other prisoners.
■ Prisoner Swap Was Battle of Self-Control, Moscow Says (Sputnik News)
■ Putin greets Russians, who return home as a result of exchange (TASS)
■ Russian embassy works to release Russians who remain in US jails (TASS)