Russia-US prisoner swap: Biden hails relief of returning Evan Gershkovich in historic exchange
US president Joe Biden was surrounded by the families of those that have been released today as he spoke from the White House
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US president Joe Biden has described the “relief” he felt as three US citizens and one green card-holder were finally freed from Russian captivity today.
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza are among the 16 prisoners freed from Russian captivity, the rest of which will be returning to Europe. In return, Russian murderers and cyber terrorists have been returned to Moscow.
Speaking from the White House alongside the families of the four that had been freed back to the US, Biden said: “This is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here. It’s a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who have been praying for this day for a long time.”
He added that “friendship and diplomacy” had been key to the exchange.
“The deal that made this possible was the feat of diplomacy and friendship. Friendship, multiple countries helped get this done. They joined difficult, complex negotiations at my request, and I personally thank them all again.”
Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza? The Cambridge-educated British-Russian activist
Below we have an explainer on who is Vladimir Kara-Murza, the British-Russian dissident rumoured to be included in the prisoner exchange today.
Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza? The new face of Russia’s anti-Putin resistance
Vladimir Kara-Murza is serving a 25-year sentence in a Siberian penal colony for speaking out against the war in Ukraine
Turkey says a prisoner exchange will take place today
The Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) said it would coordinate an extensive prisoner swap on Thursday, amid signs of a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Belarus on one side and the United States, Germany and Slovenia on the other.
“A (prisoner) exchange operation will take place today under the coordination of our organisation,” MIT said in a statement. “Our organization has undertaken a major mediation role in this exchange operation, which is the most comprehensive of the recent period.”
At least one Russian plane lands in Turkey
Flight trackers have shown at least one plane from Russia’s ‘Special Flight Squadron’ arriving in Ankara a few minutes ago from Moscow.
The plane, RSD939, arrived in Ankara this afternoon. It is reportedly the same plane that was used to swap US basketball player Brittney Griner in December 2022.
It comes as a Reuters witness claimed to have seen a plane land at the airport.
We have some more details on the flight arriving in Ankara
Below we have some more details on the Russian government plane that has just arrived in Ankara as Turkish officials report they will preside over a prisoner swap later today.
The flight took off from Vnukovo International Airport in southwest Moscow at 10.44am (GMT), arriving in Ankara, central Turkey, three hours and 42 minutes later.
It remains unclear who is on the flight, but Kremlin-approved state media claimed that an exchange will take place at the airport at 7pm local time, which is around 4pm GMT.
Why did Putin choose to exchange now?
Many Russia watchers are scratching their heads as to why Vladimir Putin, who of late has shown no willingness to negotiate swaps for those he has imprisoned, appears to have suddenly taken an about turn.
Just five months ago, Alexei Navalny, viewed as a top priority for future swaps, died in his Arctic Circle penal colony in what his allies and the West say was murder. His team later claimed Navalny was about to be swapped but Putin changed his mind and ordered him killed.
Sam Greene, professor in Russian politics at King’s College London, suggests that this latest move was an attempt by Russia “to isolate Ukraine”.
“If I had to hazard a guess, then, it would be that the Kremlin sees an opportunity to try to isolate Ukraine,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“By making this exchange, Moscow is seeking to demonstrate that (a) it can negotiate in good faith, and (b) it is willing to do deals with the West.
“This will strengthen the hand of those who have been calling for Western governments to impose a ceasefire on Kyiv and weaken those who see such a ceasefire as detrimental to Ukrainian and European security in the near, medium and long terms.”
You can read his comments in full below.
Turkish presidency: Prisoners for swap are from US, Germany, Russia, Belarus
The Turkish presidency has issued a statement reporting that the prisoners involved in a swap today are from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus
Photo appears to show Russian planes at Ankara airport
Photos released via Russian state media appear to show at least one Russian aircraft docked at Ankara airport in Turkey.
Additional footage published by Russian Defence Ministry TV appeared to show prisoner swaps getting on and off a plane at Ankara airport.
Furtehr details of the prisoner swap - Turkish intelligence agency
Earlier, we reported that Turkey’s intelligence agency official confirmed that a swap was taking place.
They have now added that ten prisoners have been sent back to Russia, including two minors, 13 to Germany and three to the US.
Turkey claim Evan Gershkovic is part of the swap - marking first official comment
Evan Gershkovic, the US journalist by Russia on trumped up charges of espionage, has been named as one of the prisoners freed in today’s swap by the Turkish intelligence agency presiding over the exchange.
In what is the first official confirmation of the exchange, the Turkish agency mentioned Gershkovich and Paul Whelan by name.
Watch live from Turkey airport as Evan Gershkovich expected to be released in prisoner swap
Watch live from Turkey airport as Evan Gershkovich expected to be released
Watch live from Ankara airport in Turkey as a high-profile prisoner swap between Russia and the West that may include jailed journalist Evan Gershkovich is expected to take place on Thursday, 1 August.
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